Has anyone hunted here or has any info about the area? I hunt alot in Presidio and may venture more out this way but heard this is some bad country for bandits and drug smugglers...

Any info on this or on the hunting?

Mike,
A few years ago I drove RR2810 (Pinto Canyon Rd) out of Marfa and took it down to Ruidoso and then headed back to Presidio. This was around Christmas so there wasn't much traffic along the way. I never passed or saw anyone that looked to be up to no good. But that road definitely by-passes the checkpoint between Presidio and Marfa. It definitely has all the hallmarks of a "Bandit's Highway". There was no cell service and I never saw Border Patrol either.

Definitely great looking country but I'd definitely be well armed when traveling through there.

Doesn't look like a place I would want to break down in!

Here's some pics that I took...

Chinati Mountains going into Pinto Canyon at the end of the pavement.


Chinati Peak


Chinati Mountains


Looking south to mountains in Mexico from just north of Ruidosa

The community that is across the river (if you can call it a river, it's more like an irrigation ditch, with a foot bridge to boot) up there was founded by Mexican prisoners way back in the day after the guards walked off the job because they hadn't been paid. So that gives ya a little clue as to what the mindset is in that area.

Back when I was running the Customs Office of Investigations at Presidio in '95 we did have a problem in that area and it was a communications no man's land. Good territory to get ambushed.

All that being said I think the BP offices in Marfa and Presidio are much bigger now and if you mind your own business while in that area you ought to be okay. But, I'd have a gun with me all the time anyway.

As far as hunting goes there were some mulies up there, but I didn't see any exotics. All that means is I didn't see any, not that there weren't any.

Somewhere in that area is a waterfall. Back in the 80's, hunted it. Mulies, quail.2 types of qual, in fact. Cannot for the life of me remember the ranch name, as I was a guest. Gorgeous country!

A good friend of mine owns 5000 acres there. They actually own the big compound and landing strip in Candaleria. They mainly use the area for 4 wheeler riding. The only animals I have seem there are javi's.

From what I have heard, the traffic had been bad in that area. I was down there in 2002 when the Marines were building the road heading west out of town. I think they have been gone for a long while. We have seen border patrol. On foot and by plane when my friends dad landed his plane. We have also seen mexicans drive trucks across the small creek coming onto our side.

Thanks for all the info. I hunt just east of Presidio and am familiar with the country and know that area is pretty safe (east of) but it seems like everything I have heard is true about it being a dangerous place (Candelaria).

I was mostly interested in the aoudad hunting,I know the muleys would be few. May just have to go down there myself and check it out.

Hey Tye any info from your friend on the hunting would be appreciated also!

I'll check with him but I'm sure he would tell me if they have been seeing anything.They also know a lot of the land owners that surround that area too. We have hunted on the other side of the Chinati's closer to Marfa and killed some nice Aoudads there.

I would bet that hunting with the Paul Candelaria hunting operation is a lot riskier than hunting the Candelaria area.

Tye... Are you refering to M. Mathews by any chance?

Be careful there. Low water crossing there and drug runners love taking the stolen PUs and SUVs across there. They also bring their candy across so as the Mexsican President says to "nourisher Americans"

Well come along with me!

Dont be skeered mi amigo!

You are thinking of Capote Falls.

My first trip to "God's Country" was in June of 1967. Took a gravel road NE out of Candelaria. When the trail ended, we hiked the rest of the way to Capote Falls. Highest waterfall in Texas but on private property. I do not think there is public access. Going in, we met up with the owner of the ranch on his way out for a truck load of hay. The first thought that came to me at the time was that if he was out of hay by the first week of June, maybe this was not "God's Country" for ranching! He was an elderly fellow and I think his name was Mr. Adams. Our guide's father owned the lumber yard in Marfa and did business with Mr. Adams(?). He got us access to Capote. I think I remember hearing that the owner was shot and killed sometime after that. Too many years ago! There was another story about a retired Sheriff and a big land dispute. A rough but beautiful country. Today's violence is not new to the area.

Yep

The only thing to kill in Candelaria is Brain cells and rocks.
Been on the Matthews ranch a few times and we did both very well