Another interesting fact is that there are some areas of Mexico that are really not safe for anyone, especially foreigners. The consulate certificate may be obtained from any Mexican embassy or consulate upon presentation of a letter from the hunters local police or sheriffs office (on original police letterhead) verifying that the hunter has no criminal record. The second Baja California Sur city on this list, La Paz is, at first glance, a good-looking seaside city like Los Cabos, which makes the rising illicit activity rate a sobering statistic in the previously calm state. In fact, all of Mexico's popular tourist areas are relatively safe, so whether you're traveling for the beach or the culture, you can be assured you'll be welcomed and safe. #4. Mexico is a popular hunting destination for both dove and waterfowl hunters due to its outstanding wing shooting. It is definitely a hidden gem. Dont even try to smuggle unlicensed guns or ammo into Mexico. Mississippi Hunter Kills Famed Swimming Buck 140. You dont have to worry about obtaining licenses or doing the paperwork to bring your trophy and cape back across the border it is all taken care of for you. Do some research on what kind of hunting is available in Mexico and compare your options. Do you want to hunt deer? Today, thestatsare so high the police dont have time to investigate each case before theyre hit with another, sothe perps often run free. Please bring your valid US passport and drivers license. That is what Id go back there to hunt if I had the money ($10,000). Common sense is still required for the proper importation of Firearms into Mexico. October 8, 2022 by Hernn Gonzales. Dont be stupid. Visitors are encouraged to avoid even travel through Tamaulipas, since gangs often target tourist coaches and other passenger buses and ransom hostages. Mexico is now the preferred destination for desert bighorn sheep and huge desert mule deer, as well as the only place in North America where the elusive brocket deer can be hunted. I resolved to tackle the risk head-on before surrendering the freedom to live my life the way I choose. Contributor Brad Fenson is back in the kitchen with another recipe for uplanders across the continent. The experience youll haveeither good or badwill you improve as a hunter in the long run. It is still relatively common for crime to occur in certain parts of the city, but there are few major clusters. Its also Mexicos unofficial worst city for women. As of 2015, all hunters under the age of 18 in New Mexico are required by law to complete hunter education before applying for or purchasing a firearms hunting license. At customs, a nice senorita surrounded by soldiers in fatigues and holding what looked to be full-auto rifles opened my rifle case, checked the papers and found a discrepancy. A list of Licensed Outfitters can be requested from any Mexican Consulate in the State you are going to hunt. These can range from deer and duck hunts close to home to a popular long-range shooting school to international adventures. Location. Each persons tolerance for risk varies. The State Department updated the Travel Advisory for Mexico on Oct. 5, which is done regularly. By 2010, we had a great operation in Sonora, hunting some 350,000-400,000 acres for mule deer, coues deer and bighorn sheep. This cartel is extremely decentralised, meaning its power lies in smaller, local groups of gangs rather than with one kingpin controlling one area of territory. According to smartertravel.com, Puebla is the fourth largest city there. The Canadians were complete jerks at the border going up and then the Americans decided to completely rip our truck apart on the way home because they received a tip that some American hunters were trying to sneak drugs back across the border. In January, I flew into Hermosillo and immediately ran a snag. Get to know your man well, treat him right and do not let him out of your sight while youre still in the city and on the road to and from camp. Overall, the answer to the question of whether it is safe to hunt in Mexico in 2021 is that it depends on the individual situation. Nevertheless, it is a good spot for tourists to go see. Stretching more than 4000 km from Tijuana in the North, to Cancun on the Caribbean Sea, Mexico is the third-largest country in North America. Illegally bringing firearms or ammunition into Mexico is strictly prohibited by the Mexican Federal Law. It is possible to purchase 12 and 20 caliber bullets, as well as a variety of 12-gauge and 10-gauge shotguns. These areas include national parks, reserves, and protected areas. Travelers need to research things like that to see what spots are safe. I was headed to a quail hunt in Yucatan organized by NRA Outdoors, some 2,000 mile distant from my friends fantastic waterfowl hunt. From armed gangs targeting local politicians to a shortage of police, leaders dont have the structure they need to control illicit activity within the state. The Mexican government has licensed sport hunting as part of its program to encourage wildlife management, according to SEMARNAP (Secretariat of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries). Both of these areas are teeming with dove, quail, and deer. Reynosa is a major city in Tamaulipas, and one of the most dangerous. It is mostly known for its beautiful beaches, water sports, and thriving nightlife scene. Thirty years ago American hunters freelycrossed the border to hunt for big deer in Mexico. Tamaulipas is the first state on the U.S.s do not travel list. Not big enough, though I was not cleared to shoot a muley anyway (read I had not spent enough money, as Coues aremuch cheaper to hunt than the coveted desert mule deer). Even if the offense is accidental, the maximum penalty is up to five years in prison. There is the occasional issue with the Agricultural inspection and interpretation of the rules regarding the freezing and treatment of the capes, I have had a cape confiscated due to the presence of one dead tick on the hide. I hunt in South Texas a lot, just miles from Mexico, and I have friends and acquaintances in various law enforcement and border agencies down there. Twenty men on foot with long guns surrounded the vehicle. Mexico is best known for its massive desert mule deer, but it is also a good hunting destination for desert bighorn sheep and white-tail deer. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Mexico was a deer hunters paradise: Cheap to travel there, lease land, stay in a hacienda on a ranch for a few weeks each January (when the weather is perfect and the bucks rut) and shoot big deer. European settlers brought their hunting traditions to Mexico five hundred years ago. Guide-staff are expert ocellated hunters with a deep knowledge of the region. Spot-and-stalk hunting is a common method of hunting deer and sheep. That was the question I kept getting from family and friends in the run up to the hunt. It is possible to hunt doves in Mexico, thanks to rancho Mescalero, an American-owned and operated property located close to dove feeding areas. Maybe Ill see you down there one Januaryor maybe not. The routine for departing the ranch is a morning hunt if required, lunch and being on the road by no later than 1:30pm. Cities such as Mazatln and Culiacn can look appealing on travel websites (and visually offer some amazing Spanish architecture) but beware of the regions sketchy people. Even if you speak perfect Spanish, you are better off arranging the license and permits through a U.S. broker or a licensed Mexican Outfitter, which specializes in the State that you are hunting. This area is very popular for hunting Canada goose, various duck species (canvasback, mallard, pintail, redhead, teal, widgeon, and others), quail, and white-wing dove. There are some really cool historical buildings to see there. During the spring conservation order, you can hunt with outfitters from Arkansas to Saskatchewan. Dont walk in high grass without snake leggings on and watching where you step. Consequently, hunting has played an important role in ranch life and in the psyche of the Mexican nation. To obtain a hunting permit in Mexico, you must first obtain a permit from SEMARNAP, the federal agency that oversees Mexicos natural resources. And you know meIm suspicious about everyone.". Experienced captains and huge numbers of pelagic game fish have made ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Zihuatanejo internationally famous. Long periods of glassing are required during a coyote deer hunt, and high-quality optics are required as well. La Marina Del Rio, in addition to being the best wingshooting facility in Mexico and North America, is home to thousands of migrating ducks as well as a massive nesting area for whitewing doves. Friendly Mexican hospitality and a mild, warm climate make Mexico the perfect place for a sporting holiday when winter grips the northern latitudes. Though it is a very different experience. This document must have your picture on it (i.e. Kirstie has done a lot of traveling within the United States, and she plans to visit other countries in the future. A gun license is required in order to carry a firearm, with many exceptions, such as police, army, navy, and special sports participants. There have been reports of hunters being attacked by crocodiles, and even of shots being fired at them by disgruntled landowners. How Many Whitetail Bucks Do Hunters Kill Across America? Feb 7, 2019. Yes, this is a short answer. You couldnt pay me a million dollars to go down there, said another police officer. The ranch owners have great contacts with the Mexican police and military in the area and stay abreast of any real or potential problems related to drug or gang violence, are active members of the ANGADI community, reside on the US side in Laredo so they make the trip back and forth to the ranch on almost a daily basis during the off season, have excellent contacts / relationships on the US side, and can be depended on to let us know if they think it is not safe to make the trip to hunt. Chances are youd end up in a Mexican jail like U.S. Marine Sgt. Mexico has a high rate of violent crime, including murder, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and so on. This certificate is also necessary for obtaining military gun permits, which are issued by the army garrison in the major border town in the Mexican State in which you are going to hunt. One would think crime would be high because of that, but this is actually a very safe spot in Mexico. Would it be safe? A buddy and I actually hitch hiked from Laredo to Monterrey in 1964 with no problems. Family and friends had expressed much concerned for my safety in the days leading up to my departure for a quail hunt in the Mexican state of Yucatan, and naturally security was on my mind. Your Hunting License agent can advise you on this requirement. Solo travel in Mexico can make one feel very vulnerable at times - though that goes for many places too. There is a significant police presence, particularly in places of tourist interest. According to latimes.com,many areas there are not safe. Semi-automatic pistols or revolvers of a caliber no larger than that of the general public are generally the only firearms permitted for private citizens. Violence has been on the rise in recent years in Colima, which was once one of the safest and most relaxed states in Mexico. 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