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If all the hotspots are taken and you don't have a rich uncle to pay for your dream hunt, look south for an affordable trophy hunt without the draws.

    Hunters can't be blamed for the ever-downward spiral of our deer herds. We as hunters have the predatory instinct deep inside us. The downside to this process is that within a few seasons, these so called "hotspots" tend to get over hunted and saturated with hunters. Within a few seasons, that hotspot is no more. What do we do then? The answer is find a new "hotspot" and begin the process all over again.

    This same behavior is mimicked in Mexico. For many years, outfitters would lease a particular property and then hammer it for several seasons. No one can deny that great bucks were taken. This same thing has happened here in the West. Way too much pressure! The ever-present U.S. dollar made its way onto the scene. Outfitters realized that they could make tidy sums by increasing hunt prices and hunter
numbers. Hunt prices skyrocketed and will never go back to the level when hunting was just getting started in Mexico. As a result of higher hunt prices, landowners and ranchers began demanding more money and got it.

    Today, choosing an outfitter in Mexico requires research as well as money. You have to remember that it is a different country even though we are so close by. The laws are different, the language is different, and outfitters are different. Many hunters have had bad experiences due to unscrupulous outfitters whose only goal was making the almighty dollar. Don't be afraid to ask for references and ask questions about what the hunt consists of.

    The truth today is mule deer in particular are feeling the pressure in many different forms. As mentioned in the well-written article by Dennis Wintch last issue, predator control is a major factor which must be addressed. I've hunted southern California all of my life (yes we do have deer) and I've seen many changes in the environment. The anti-hunters are thick here. When we last lobbied to overturn the current legislation, which prohibits mountain lion hunting and has been in effect since the 70s, we lost. Was it any surprise? No, not really. California is a very powerful state, but unfortunately liberal bunny huggers, who for the most part, have never taken a step into the wilderness, outnumber us.

    When I was a young kid and hunting the forests throughout most of southern and central California, it was very rare to see a mountain lion. Just about every hunter I know has seen at least one cougar in the last year or two. There are also daily sightings in many suburbs of Los Angeles County. Unfortunately, I don't see any positive changes occurring with regard to predator control in the Rockies anytime soon. Predators though are only part of the equation.

    You must have genetics and low pressure to have big bucks. This is exactly what is offered in Mexico. Though there are low deer densities per square mile in Sonora, the age class is definitely higher on the average than here in the U.S. You may go days without seeing one buck or even a doe, but the next day you may see the buck of a lifetime.

Not only can you bag a giant mule deer like this 34" buck on the left, but you can find some pretty impressive sheds.

    Also, where else can you expect to hunt the rut? You may be fortunate enough in the West to draw a rut tag, but I wouldn't hold my breath. The only other alternative is to buy special entry deer tags in top trophy deer areas with such names as Pausaungaunt or Jicarilla. How many of us could afford or even justify spending the amounts in question? Many of these top areas will cost you more than double what a Mexico hunt will cost. Granted, Mexico isn't as cheap as it once was, but it still isn't too bad. What I will tell you about Mexico is that you get what you pay for.

    When is the rut? That can vary by region. In my region it is usually from early to mid December to mid January. The weather and moon cycles can play a role in this. Cold weather and rain will usually kick in the rut. As a general rule, the smaller bucks will show symptoms of the rut first. They will start gathering with the does. The larger bucks will usually be close by and when the rut breaks out, all heck breaks loose.

       I've heard of several proposed changes that may occur for the upcoming seasons in Sonora. The game commission, in a positive attempt to curb hunter numbers, has proposed that tag numbers be reduced throughout Sonora. While mainly aimed at the sheep, mule deer were also mentioned and may be affected. I see this as a positive effort by the commission to control the harvest number of bighorns in the state. This will definitely ensure good numbers of sheep down the road. The same approach of harvesting less mule deer was also mentioned and
proposed. Additionally, there was a proposed steep increase in tag fees for mule deer which has sent shock waves throughout the industry. I don't believe an exaggerated increase will occur as proposed. A sharp increase will mean less hunters and income for the game commission. That would mean less spending in Mexico. I don't believe it would be wise, especially due to the economic instability felt here in the United States recently. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I will keep you posted in the upcoming months.