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This hunt takes place on a private ranch in Sonora, Mexico, near the town of Obregon. This part of Sonora produces some exceptional Coues deer bucks but so far has attracted little outside attention because most visitors hunt farther north. The hunt is operated by two partners. Mr. Gracia owns 5,000 acres, and Mr. Salmon owns a 13,200-acre ranch.
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"Both ranches are very good," Mr. Gracia said. "We have been working the past three years to get permits for non-resident hunters, and we are keeping the harvest to four deer a year on each ranch in order to keep the trophy quality high. Family members and guests have hunted these ranches for 40 years, and as long as I remember, the most deer taken in a given year has been three or four."
Mr. Gracia recently measured some of the deer he has personally shot. The biggest one scored 131 B&C. "I don't see any problem showing hunters some truly trophy-class bucks," he said. "I've checked out the deer taken by outfitters up north, and I would say the bucks here are definitely bigger. I can pretty well guarantee bucks in the 85 to 110 class. And we also can guarantee very good service."
The rancher has never offered hunts on his property but is working with Hunts.Net to provide a quality trophy hunt this winter. One of the best hunters I know, Gary Andersen, and I will be guiding along with both ranchers. With no more than four hunters in camp, each hunter will have his own guide.
The price is $3,500, and that includes the gun permit as well as the hunting permit and tag. Most Sonoran outfitters charge an additional $500 for the hunting permit and up to $350 for the gun permit. The rancher was a high-school exchange student in West Virginia, where he learned to hunt whitetails as well as speak English. To maintain trophy quality, the rancher will allow no more than four hunters per year. If there is enough interest, his neighbor will also allow four hunters. The best hunting is in December or January. It takes about three weeks to get the paperwork done, so call right away if you're interested. Accommodations in a Mexican casa, meals prepared by a full-time cook, and airport pickup are included. If you've always wanted to enjoy a genuine experience of hunting in Sonora, come and have a great time with us.
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| Hunt CD7101OB |
| Hunt, guide ratio |
Price per person |
| One buck: 2x1, 5 or 6 days, one buck, stand hunting from ground blinds, watching senderos cut out of the brush and cactus |
$2,200 plus $300 for hunting and gun licenses and paperwork. You must have a party of four to get this price.
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| One buck: 1x1, 5 or 6 days, one buck, December or January |
$3,995 with no trophy fee. Hunting and gun licenses are included.
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| Two bucks: 1x1, 5 or 6 days, two bucks, December or January |
$3,995 plus a $1,000 trophy fee on the second buck. Hunting and gun licenses are included.
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| Lodging/meals |
Trophy size |
| Hunters will sleep in a home on the ranch with two hunters in a bedroom. There's a safe large enough to store rifles. The guides sleep in a separate bunkhouse. |
Hunters should take bucks in the 85 to 110 class, possibly bigger, if they hold out. No more than four bucks a year have been taken from these ranches. |
| Expected hunter success |
Licenses |
| 80 to 100%, depending on trophy standards. The rancher said, "There are many deer and if we don't see deer on one spot we can move to another spot. Right now there are a lot of deer on the ranch. We have been putting up blinds, and we will start putting out feed to draw them close to the blinds." |
Hunting license and tag are included in the price of the hunt. The gun permit is also included in the price of the hunt. Most Sonoran outfitters charge about $500 for the hunting license and tag and up to $350 for the gun importation paperwork. |
| Gracia Ranch |
Salmon Ranch |
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5,000 acres, mostly in small mountains and hills with dense vegetation. Many roads. Some hills are all grass. This is where we'll build blinds and feed the deer. Three creeks and small lakes.
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Salmon Ranch: 13,200 acres of fairly flat land with four or five mountains where most of the hunting takes place. A dry riverbed crosses the entire ranch, and many deer live along the riverbed. There are about 10 places where you can shoot 200 to 300 yards. |
| Taxidermy and meat |
Hunting methods |
| Your cape or hide will be delivered to a local taxidermist, who prepares the cape for shipping to the U.S. You can have the deer mounted by a taxidermist in Mexico, or you can have the cape shipped home. The taxidermy fees are not included in the price of the hunt. Meat will be eaten in camp or donated to local residents. |
The rancher has typically waited on stands in the mornings and evenings. Shooting ranges vary from 70 to 350 yards. Glassing is possible because the vegetation is not too thick on one ranch. On the other ranch there is a lot of vegetation, so baited blinds will be the most effective method. Sometimes you can still-hunt in the mountains. |
| Travel |
Notes |
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You may fly into Obregon or Hermosillo, where you'll be picked up and driven to the ranches, which are an hour from Obregon and two hours from Hermosillo. There is no extra charge for airport shuttle service. You'll need a passport if you fly after Jan. 8, 2008. If you drive a birth certificate and drivers license are OK. If you drive, one of our Mexican partners will meet you at the border. You'll have to pay for his gasoline as well as one day's wage for this service.
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Hunts to take place in January 2007 or 2008 or December 2008. Temperatures can be cool to cold in the morning and warm to hot during the day, even in December and January. It seldom freezes. Typically the coldest it gets is about 5 degrees Celsius or about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The air is dry but sometimes a little windy. |
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