Mexico Gears For 2010-2011 Sheep and Deer Hunting Season 8-26-2010

Mexico Travel News Bureau FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEXICO GEARS FOR 2010-2011   SHEEP AND DEER HUNTING SEASONBoasting 90 percent of the country’s 2,600 game parks,

Mexico’s northern states provide ample hunting grounds

MEXICO CITY, August 26, 2010 - Hunters from around the globe will make the journey to Mexico in the coming weeks for what promises to be another epic sheep and deer hunting season. Starting in November, hunters will track into northern Mexico to try their luck at bagging trophy-worthy desert bighorn sheep, coues deer or desert mule deer.

Desert bighorn sheep season is from November 12 to March 30, while desert mule deer and coues deer season begins on November 26 until January 30.

Mexico’s northern region is a hunter’s paradise, offering enthusiasts vast protected areas filled with prized game. The states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tamaulipas alone harbor 90 percent of Mexico’s 2,600 game parks, many less than an hour’s drive from the U.S. border.

Northern Mexico’s lush farmlands of rice, corn and barley, sprawling marshlands and mild winters attract an abundance of game species; it is no wonder that several major northern flyways converge in the area. Hunters, meanwhile, are lured by liberal game limits, long hunting seasons, a wide variety of species, a diversity of hunting styles (both free range and safari park hunts) and affordable rates.

For some years now, the Mexico Tourism Board partnered with the Safari Club International, the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in encouraging wildlife conservation worldwide, to promote Mexico’s popular hunting destinations. Efforts to foster the conservation of regional fauna have led to the creation of large reserves covered in underbrush and forests, where diverse species can reproduce and are later hunted for sport. These protected areas guarantee hunters an environment as breathtaking as it is challenging.

Some of the most common species found in northern Mexico include 14 subspecies of whitetail deer, six subspecies of mule deer, two subspecies of tamazate deer, coues deer; many varieties of ducks, such as canvasback, mallard, pintail, redhead, teal, widgeon and others; geese; quail; white-winged and mourning dove; turkey; wild pig; elk; bighorn sheep; and the exotic Black Buck antelope.

Summarized below are the northern Mexican states where hunting is most common, as well as the game species they harbor.

Chihuahua

The state of Chihuahua is known for producing many of the highest-scoring Coues deer on record. The municipalities of Parral and Cuzihuiriachi harbor game reserves where Gould turkey, several species of deer and migratory birds can be hunted.

Coahuila

In Coahuila, dove, quail and deer converge in the areas northwest of Nuevo Laredo and north along the Rio Grande River, just north of the city of Piedras Negras.

Nuevo Leon

The brush country directly southwest of the city of Nuevo Laredo teems with trophy whitetail deer and plentiful blue quail.

Sinaloa

The area of El Fuerte is very popular for hunting Canadian goose, quail, white-wing dove and such duck species as canvasback, mallard, teal and widgeon. Quail and blue pigeon are abundant in the areas surrounding the state’s capital, Culiacan, while popular hunting spots north of the Pacific resort city of Mazatlan offer several varieties of ducks and geese, as well as dove and quail. Dove hunting is excellent around the city of Los Mochis.

Sonora

White-tailed deer, mule deer and bighorn sheep inhabit the areas northeast and northwest of Hermosillo. Gould’s turkey can be hunted in the stunning desert lands of the state between mid-April and early May. During the hunting season, from November to March, mule deer, bighorn sheep, several aquatic bird species, doves and quail can be hunted near the coastal resort city of Puerto Peñasco.

Tamaulipas

This Gulf Coast state harbors one of the largest concentrations in the world of white-winged dove. The area surrounding the city of San Fernando, approximately 100 miles south of Brownsville, Texas, is the most popular area for this species, while ducks and geese can be found along the Laguna Madre area. Quail hunting season spans the first two months of the year. And don’t forget to plan your trophy whitetail deer hunt too! This includes taking a souvenir such as the deer antlers or deer head as a “trophy” of the kill. Please note, that there is a cost associated with this practice and it is not advised to illegally practice trophy hunting.

How to Plan Your Trip

International hunters seeking to bring their hunting firearms into Mexico should first approach a U.S. broker or a licensed Mexican outfitter. The licensed agent helps hunters collect the paperwork needed to hunt in Mexico. Among the documents hunters must currently present are a hunting agreement with a licensed rancher or outfitter, a special visa and a military gun permit. In addition, a valid passport is necessary for entry into Mexico and the United States. It is also useful to carry your passport as proof of citizenship, another document required to hunt in Mexico. To be on the safe side, contact Mexican government authorities prior to your hunting trip to receive the most up-to-date information regarding necessary documents, as requirements may change.

Another way the agent aids hunters is by connecting them with a licensed Mexican rancher or hunting outfitter, a requirement for all international hunters. A rancher is a person who owns a ranch, allowing private hunters or outfitters onto their property to hunt the native wildlife. While an outfitter is an individual who receives compensation to provide outfitting services such as providing guides, equipment, blinds or transportation to the hunter.

The Mexico Tourism Board office in Houston can provide specific outfitter names, regulations and requirements, as well as consult with state authorities to determine exact seasons and bag limits for different species.

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB functions as an executive agency of Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat, with autonomous management and the broad participation of the private sector. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.