Occasionally, some of us talk about our future turkey hunting goals and what we would like to do. Pretty regularly, folks bring up going on a Gould's turkey hunt. Of course, most of that opportunity is in Mexico. Here's a question for you: Assuming you are at all interested, what are you willing to pay for a turkey hunt in Mexico for a Gould's?
In fact, for any of the subspecies, what would be your breaking point in terms of going on a particular hunt,...or not? ...And what would be your expectations in terms of what you would want provided?
I think the most I would pay for a single bird Gould's hunt would be about $1200. $2000 to me is a crazy price and honestly the royal slam isn't worth that plus the travel cost.
I prefer to chase anything but easterns on public land so I don't have much experience with guides.
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Gould's just don't excite me enough to pay that much for them.
Gould's and Merriam are both of interest to me, I have never booked a hunting trip so I would guess between $2000-$3000 would be fair with license lodging and meals?
$2500 would be my breaking point. That would have to include lodging and food. I don't need 5 star accommodations but I would expect a clean and safe place to lay my head at night, a shower and something hot for dinner. As far as the hunting I would expect to at least see sign that there are turkeys in the area.
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Call me crazy but right now I wouldn't pay $1 because traveling in Mexico makes me so nervous. Saw some pictures recently of where someone killed one in the mountains of Chihuahua and was talking with a hispanic guy I work with that's from Chihuahua and he said they are crazy. Said all the locals stay out of the mountains because that's where the cartels run their operations.
1000 bucks tops.
Anything more than a nonresident hunting license and I'm out. I'm not interested enough in different tail feather colors to pay someone to help me find and kill one. I'll buy a can of spray paint and paint a Eastern fan, then make up a nice adventurous out of state/country story, and I can come up with some doozie's. Probably even wind up on one of those tubeyou channels.
Quote from: guesswho on June 10, 2019, 01:37:43 PM
Anything more than a nonresident hunting license and I'm out. I'm not interested enough in different tail feather colors to pay someone to help me find and kill one. I'll buy a can of spray paint and paint a Eastern fan, then make up a nice adventurous out of state/country story, and I can come up with some doozie's. Probably even wind up on one of those tubeyou channels.
There are certain parts of York where I could go buy the spray paint, eat at Taco Bell and have all the "Mexican Adventure" I need
I always liked that line by Col. Tom Kelly where he says something like " there are plenty of turkeys within 1 hour of where I live that are capable of embarrassing me, I don't need to drive further"
Quote from: AndyH on June 10, 2019, 01:01:59 PM
$2500 would be my breaking point. That would have to include lodging and food. I don't need 5 star accommodations but I would expect a clean and safe place to lay my head at night, a shower and something hot for dinner. As far as the hunting I would expect to at least see sign that there are turkeys in the area.
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I expect to have $2,500 in a trip for a Osceola in the up coming years. Not sure I'd spend much more than $1,500 for a Goulds.
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on June 10, 2019, 01:09:59 PM
1000 bucks tops.
That'd be max too and that would need to include license, lodging and meals.
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Quote from: Sir-diealot on June 10, 2019, 01:15:10 PM
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on June 10, 2019, 01:09:59 PM
1000 bucks tops.
I thought I was cheap! :P
He asked what it would be to each of us and if that makes me cheap then so be it. I have no desire to kill one. Actually if I could only hunt easterns the rest of my life I would be more than fine.
I've got a friend who's wife won a goulds hunt in Mexico at a nwtf banquet for next spring and I'm sort of waitng to see how that goes other wise I've got rios five minutes out my door and merriam's twenty minutes away and easterns eight to ten hours away so I can't see spending much more than fuel and lisence money on a turkey hunt however I did trade a mule deer hunt for a Oceola turkey hunt down in Florida and all I had to pay for was my air fare and that was a fun hunt for a couple of birds but that's as far as I'd go for a turkey hunt
1200 I come close years ago but I'm happy chasin them here now.
I am perfectly content chasing easterns. So I guess my answer is not much.
1000 - 1500 if i was interested ... but i'm really not interested ... i will take that money and buy me some more calls ... maybe another gun also....
Too much fun chasing hybrids across several states...
Goulds are cool, just not worth 5-6+ dirty birds to me...
I'm going to have to kill a lot of other turkeys In a lot of places before I start thinking about paying money to go to Mexico for another.
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It seems that the news is filled with Americans getting confronted around the world, often at the cost of them being killed. For this reason alone, I'm not interested in going beyond the borders of the good 'ol USA. I've still got neighboring states that I've not hunted yet.
I've only killed Easterns and one Merriams. I'd like to kill a Rio an Osceola and a Goulds but I'm not interested in going to Mexico. I'm also not in a position to afford a fully guided hunt and not so sure I'd enjoy one if I could afford it. I'll do the gas, hotel room and nonresident tag route instead. That's really more my speed any way.
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I have no desire to ever go to Mexico. If I did I would rather go bass fishing than chasing that weird looking turkey.
Some of you hillbillies don't need to be so provincial. :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
I want to hunt turkeys in both New and Old Mexico. Both sides of the wall. Then, I'm a going to New Zealand. :z-guntootsmiley:
Every year, me and my three turkey hunting buddies travel to two or three states and hunt public ground. Typically, the hunting licenses are the most expensive purchase of the trip. In our group, There are three generations of hunters. The oldest is in his mid 70s. This year we went to Tennessee and hunted Public ground. The oldest hunter of our group has always wanted to kill a Goulds to complete his Royal Slam. So, us four, traveled to Mexico after a Goulds and spent much more than we usually do. I figured it's a once in a lifetime experience and it was for one of my good hunting buddies. Long story short, we all killed one but it definitely wasn't as easy as I thought it would be / heard. The first evening there we hunted and the guide let me do my own thing as I requested. I passed up a long beard thinking there were going to be plenty more opportunities. I ended up killing one on the third morning. I spent twice as much as I do every other year. With plane tickets, lodging, food, the hunt I spent approximately $2500. I had no intentions of getting my Gould gobbler mounted because I felt I spent a lot of money as it was. Well, the gobbler I killed just had to have four beards $$$. I'm glad I went and experienced it. It was a once in a lifetime trip for me. As far as being in Mexico and border issues, there were none except paperwork issues bringing the turkey capes back. Bring on Spring 2020.
Shane Smith of Bridgeport, AL did an outstanding job preserving my Gould's.
Quote from: nitro on June 15, 2019, 02:55:24 PM
My experience with my Gould's trip was similar to Yoder's, except I went to Durango. Not to brag, but merely share my experience-
I have been hunting turkeys for 41 seasons and have killed quite a few. Passed my lifetime goal 15 seasons ago. Living in Georgia and killing Easterns has gotten stale. I enjoy traveling to new places every Spring and killing birds in unique, beautiful places. I never intend to kill the US Slam, but I did want to check off all the subspecies. Only the Ocellated remains and I am still kicking that trip around.
My Gould's hunt remains to this day the best Turkey hunting adventure of my life. From the humble , kind people, the incredibly beautiful country, the high altitude hunting ( we were at a ranch that was at 6500 feet elevation), the food and hospitality of our host family were all first class from start to finish. I want to go and kill more of them and hope to over the next few years. A Gould's hunt was worth much more to me in the size and scope of the experience than the money it took to get there. I am looking at my Gould's as I type this and it brings back great memories.
Not many places in the world you can sit atop a mountain next to a beautiful White tipped Gobbler like the Gould's and see a vista of 70 miles - of nothingness. No cities or skyscrapers to impede the view. The Gould's turkeys are quite something to hold and examine. They are in fact, the largest of the 5 subspecies. Many things separate them from Merriams, including a larger skeletal structure, huge feet and long legs ( suited for the habitat) Loud Gobbling and fantastic pure white tail and covert feathers. The Fans are huge. The "eyelashes" on a Gould's fan are another characteristic of the Gould's. The Gould's is vividly more colored than the Merriams as well. Lots of green/ gold reflective coloration. Beautiful indeed.
A hunt in the Sierr@ Madres was physically challenging. It is rugged terrain and the birds can cover ground much faster than a human.
One of my companions on the trip died a year or so after we went and I miss him very much. Some folks here have no clue what they are missing and that is just fine..
It's not for everyone. I do without some extras every year to save and scrimp for Spring. I love traveling to kill someone else's Gobblers.
Someday, if we are luck enough to live to old age, memories will be all we have. I hope all of you make a bunch of great ones. My Gould's trip falls in that category.
EXCELLENT post !!!!
The experience of hunting turkeys where an in-shape guy has to catch his O2 (we were between 8000-9000 ft) in places you wonder if you'll ever see your family again................... Wyoming was big. Chihuahua was BIIIIIIIIIIIG !!!!!!!
My avatar pic is of my 2nd Gould's bird. I carried this bird out +/- 4 miles to the truck from where I shot him. The first 1/2 mile was a climb of roughly 1000 ft of elevation.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4209/35009775153_b686022256.jpg)
Quote from: nitro on June 15, 2019, 02:55:24 PM
My experience with my Gould's trip was similar to Yoder's, except I went to Durango. Not to brag, but merely share my experience-
I have been hunting turkeys for 41 seasons and have killed quite a few. Passed my lifetime goal 15 seasons ago. Living in Georgia and killing Easterns has gotten stale. I enjoy traveling to new places every Spring and killing birds in unique, beautiful places. I never intend to kill the US Slam, but I did want to check off all the subspecies. Only the Ocellated remains and I am still kicking that trip around.
My Gould's hunt remains to this day the best Turkey hunting adventure of my life. From the humble , kind people, the incredibly beautiful country, the high altitude hunting ( we were at a ranch that was at 6500 feet elevation), the food and hospitality of our host family were all first class from start to finish. I want to go and kill more of them and hope to over the next few years. A Gould's hunt was worth much more to me in the size and scope of the experience than the money it took to get there. I am looking at my Gould's as I type this and it brings back great memories.
Not many places in the world you can sit atop a mountain next to a beautiful White tipped Gobbler like the Gould's and see a vista of 70 miles - of nothingness. No cities or skyscrapers to impede the view. The Gould's turkeys are quite something to hold and examine. They are in fact, the largest of the 5 subspecies. Many things separate them from Merriams, including a larger skeletal structure, huge feet and long legs ( suited for the habitat) Loud Gobbling and fantastic pure white tail and covert feathers. The Fans are huge. The "eyelashes" on a Gould's fan are another characteristic of the Gould's. The Gould's is vividly more colored than the Merriams as well. Lots of green/ gold reflective coloration. Beautiful indeed.
A hunt in the Sierr@ Madres was physically challenging. It is rugged terrain and the birds can cover ground much faster than a human.
One of my companions on the trip died a year or so after we went and I miss him very much. Some folks here have no clue what they are missing and that is just fine..
It's not for everyone. I do without some extras every year to save and scrimp for Spring. I love traveling to kill someone else's Gobblers.
Someday, if we are luck enough to live to old age, memories will be all we have. I hope all of you make a bunch of great ones. My Gould's trip falls in that category.
Excellent points to consider!
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I guess because I'm more of a DIY guy the Gould's hunt really isn't on my list. Also I like fly fishing when on my turkeys trips.
Maybe if I ever get through CO, WY, MT and NM then l may give it a thought.
But to each his own, have fun.
I started the initial post just to see what kind of interest there was by really serious turkey hunters like are on O.G. to go to Mexico and what their limits were in terms of cost. I have been down there a number of times myself,...but not since they started having the really bad problems with the drug trade.
I think that issue for American hunters has calmed down considerably and is really not a factor anymore, but it does make you wonder about taking the chance. Bottom line is that if you are hesitating because of safety concerns, I don't think that is a problem that should keep you from going.
The price for hunting down there has gradually gone up to a point where you are probably going to pay between $1,500 and $2,000 for a one-bird hunt,...including transportation from one of the U.S. border towns, food, lodging, etc.. Adding a second bird will put you in the $2,500 range.
Living close to the border myself, I have a few contacts that provide hunts down there. I could go every year,...but like some of you have stated, the price is beyond my personal budget-number nowadays. I am hoping to find a source for hunts where a guy can kill two birds for under a couple of grand,...but I'm not sure any of those exist anymore.
A gobbling turkey is all I require. Slams or number of states mean nothing to me.
Im too busy hunting birds within a days drive of florida... but one day when I retire.....I'd like to travel a bit see the country and hunt at a relaxed pace , new mexico would be cool
Shannon
Thanks for getting things back on track, Shannon! Hopefully, it will stay that way!
Jim
Quote from: Old Gobbler on June 28, 2019, 06:25:38 PM
Im too busy hunting birds within a days drive of florida... but one day when I retire.....I'd like to travel a bit see the country and hunt at a relaxed pace , new mexico would be cool
Shannon
I always told my Mrs, the year I retire, I'll be in Florida the first of March and I'll hunt my way home.
Quote from: Yoder409 on June 15, 2019, 04:48:20 PM
Quote from: nitro on June 15, 2019, 02:55:24 PM
My experience with my Gould's trip was similar to Yoder's, except I went to Durango. Not to brag, but merely share my experience-
I have been hunting turkeys for 41 seasons and have killed quite a few. Passed my lifetime goal 15 seasons ago. Living in Georgia and killing Easterns has gotten stale. I enjoy traveling to new places every Spring and killing birds in unique, beautiful places. I never intend to kill the US Slam, but I did want to check off all the subspecies. Only the Ocellated remains and I am still kicking that trip around.
My Gould's hunt remains to this day the best Turkey hunting adventure of my life. From the humble , kind people, the incredibly beautiful country, the high altitude hunting ( we were at a ranch that was at 6500 feet elevation), the food and hospitality of our host family were all first class from start to finish. I want to go and kill more of them and hope to over the next few years. A Gould's hunt was worth much more to me in the size and scope of the experience than the money it took to get there. I am looking at my Gould's as I type this and it brings back great memories.
Not many places in the world you can sit atop a mountain next to a beautiful White tipped Gobbler like the Gould's and see a vista of 70 miles - of nothingness. No cities or skyscrapers to impede the view. The Gould's turkeys are quite something to hold and examine. They are in fact, the largest of the 5 subspecies. Many things separate them from Merriams, including a larger skeletal structure, huge feet and long legs ( suited for the habitat) Loud Gobbling and fantastic pure white tail and covert feathers. The Fans are huge. The "eyelashes" on a Gould's fan are another characteristic of the Gould's. The Gould's is vividly more colored than the Merriams as well. Lots of green/ gold reflective coloration. Beautiful indeed.
A hunt in the Sierr@ Madres was physically challenging. It is rugged terrain and the birds can cover ground much faster than a human.
One of my companions on the trip died a year or so after we went and I miss him very much. Some folks here have no clue what they are missing and that is just fine..
It's not for everyone. I do without some extras every year to save and scrimp for Spring. I love traveling to kill someone else's Gobblers.
Someday, if we are luck enough to live to old age, memories will be all we have. I hope all of you make a bunch of great ones. My Gould's trip falls in that category.
EXCELLENT post !!!!
The experience of hunting turkeys where an in-shape guy has to catch his O2 (we were between 8000-9000 ft) in places you wonder if you'll ever see your family again................... Wyoming was big. Chihuahua was BIIIIIIIIIIIG !!!!!!!
My avatar pic is of my 2nd Gould's bird. I carried this bird out +/- 4 miles to the truck from where I shot him. The first 1/2 mile was a climb of roughly 1000 ft of elevation.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4209/35009775153_b686022256.jpg)
Nitro and Yoder's posts do a great job of capturing the aspects that would appeal to me. The wildness of the country, and the opportunity to hunt some very different and challenging terrain. There are places I've hunted in the Gila Wilderness that look very similar to the pictures I've seen from the Sierr@ Madre Gould's hunts. That may be the closest I ever get. Right now I have other places to hunt that are higher on my list and wouldn't cost nearly as much. I'd like to go back to Florida on public land, hunt the South Carolina lowlands, and the North Georgia mountains, and expect to spend much of my retirement hunting across New England.
RV,
You get over this way, and I can take care of your SC and N GA hunts... we still have a few birds over here...
Quote from: nitro on June 29, 2019, 04:49:49 PM
RV,
You get over this way, and I can take care of your SC and N GA hunts... we still have a few birds over here...
A very generous offer nitro; I will do my best and would be honored to join you.
Come on. Late season SC Low Country hunt and early May for Mountains of GA.. get your body confused - heat / humidity in SC , elevation and tough walking in the hills ..
How much would it cost to get some eggs and incubate them? That's probably still more than I'm willing to put into the whole venture. Hard enough to find the time to chase easterns sometimes. Taking time to fly to Mexico and get skunked just doesn't appeal to me. Love to try merriams and osceolas but again, it requires going farther than I'm willing to go at this precise moment. Therefore, putting a price on it, I'd say about the cost of a wooden nickel.
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I've long considered the trip to Mexico but that money could be spent on other things for my family. I think spending that much on a turkey hunt would surpass my guilt threshold. Maybe... :lol:
My program is generally this look at the monthly budget and try to find $100- $200 a month that I spend on dining out, movies, or other " discretionary" expenses. Can also mean "vice" expenses like booze or tobacco...
Take that money and put it in my travel hunt fund. After 3-4 years, An out of state or even out of the Country money is available. It's all about sacrifice for me. You get one chance .. prioritize and make your goal a reality.
I promise you all on the fence. it's worth the trip.
Quote from: silvestris on June 16, 2019, 10:00:20 PM
A gobbling turkey is all I require. Slams or number of states mean nothing to me.
This.
Great question - "what's it worth?" Over a decade and a half ago when I first began considering a Gould's hunt - not worth much since more concerned about safety and cost. However time has a way of changing perspective for when the light gets narrower at the end of the tunnel and acquaintances begin to have physical limitations or serious illness, the "cost" of not going eventually is outweighed by the "need" to go. And so in 2018 went and had a wonderful experience. Wonder why waited so long but then again ,for me , the water under the bridge has always been so much clearer than it is above the bridge