Mexico?

[Sixes]

To each his own, but I would not personally take that chance.

I'm sure those 2 Aussies and the American surfer heard it would be fine to go camping and surfing.

[OJR]

I have spent a few nights in Chihuahua, and hunted in the Sonora Mountains as well as the Yucatan. When hunting the Ocellated we stayed in Merida for two extra days before we headed to the jungle. In both places we walked to dinner at night. My wife and I walked to Walmart in Merida after 10pm one night. Never a moments worry. We took an extensive tour of some Mayan ruins by hiring a local to drive us around for the day. All in all each trip was outstanding.

You can find trouble where you look for it, no matter where you are.

[Yoder409]

I have spent a few nights in Chihuahua, and hunted in the Sonora Mountains as well as the Yucatan. When hunting the Ocellated we stayed in Merida for two extra days before we headed to the jungle. In both places we walked to dinner at night. My wife and I walked to Walmart in Merida after 10pm one night. Never a moments worry. We took an extensive tour of some Mayan ruins by hiring a local to drive us around for the day. All in all each trip was outstanding.

You can find trouble where you look for it, no matter where you are.

According to my buddy (who is a Mexican citizen), Merida is the safest city in Mexico.  He said, "You could walk the streets at midnight and be safe".

Chihuahua City.....not so much.

[PharmHunter]

To each his own, but I would not personally take that chance.

I'm sure those 2 Aussies and the American surfer heard it would be fine to go camping and surfing.

That story has made my wife even more thrilled about my planned trip for next Spring.

[dzsmith]

I drove down in 2019 and never made it to my destination because while i was paying for gas in saltillo, some guys tampered with my vehicle and I broke down on the highway not long after in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service, 1 bottler of water, a bag of jerky and my turkey calls. Now... I traveled there myself, because the outfit i used who by the way has sent many others there without issue failed to let me know, that i wasnt meeting someone who would transport me from one place to the next. I had asked him many times, and he was like well i was hoping you would just fly. most do...obviously you cant buy that ticket the week of...so i opted to drive it after speaking with the mexican guide over the phone later who the american outfit went through. long story short.....some random folks stopped and said we can fix your vehicle...obviously the same individuals from the station who had tampered with it...as this was a trap from the get go. I had to pay them of course...what choice do you have. When my vehicle was back on , i never turned it off until i was back at my house the next night....i drove non stop from dark until the next evening when i got home. Obviously i thought the same thing....chances are nothing will happen. I didnt die or get kidnapped by the cartel...but mexico isnt the U.S., outside of a resort that place is a disease, and life has no value down there.....Id rather be in afghanistan. If you do go there...id go with an outfit that transported me at least. And as seen in another comment above even that can go south. Life has no value there....For those saying they never felt unsafe. i dont know if they drove themself or were transported. Im a fairly well traveled individual at least compared to average person id say...and i felt unsafe the moment i got to laredo/nueva. Choose wisely.

[Cowboy]

No way on God's green earth would I or will I EVER go Mexico.....not this day and age.....

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[GobbleNut]

To each his own, but I would not personally take that chance.

I'm sure those 2 Aussies and the American surfer heard it would be fine to go camping and surfing.

That story has made my wife even more thrilled about my planned trip for next Spring.

This is exactly the reason that we (a group of about ten of us) stopped going down there.  It wasn't so much that any of us were worried about it...it was that our wives were not happy about the prospects of what might happen, even though what MIGHT happen was an extremely remote possibility.  We had gone down there DIY three years in a row and had an absolute blast...and without a single issue. 

We would probably have continued to do so, but that was right about the time the cartels started the drug wars in the Juarez/Chihuahua City region...which was the route we had traveled on our hunts.  We all hated not being able to go back again, but the concerns of our spouses were enough for us to give up going down there. 

Now, I also think that going through a reputable outfitter would eliminate most all fears anybody might have. However, each of us has to weigh not only our concerns about going, but also those of our loved ones...and evaluate whether or not it is really worth it.

For me personally, if I was really concerned about killing another Gould's gobbler and was willing to pay the price (which has gone up considerably over the years), I wouldn't think twice about booking with a (reputable) outfitter.  As a "small city" boy from southern New Mexico, my fears of going to Mexico are less than those I would have about walking down an inner-city street of any major metropolitan area (and lots of other places) in the U.S. after dark...if you get my "drift".   

[Up Hill]

Well...I guess that makes it a no bueno for me too then. Turkey hunting has always been my 23 year old son and I. No way my wife is gonna let me take him to mexico. Anybody know a good rio or osceola outfitter? Lol

[GobbleNut]

Just got this Outdoor Life Newsletter with an article about a Mexico Gould's hunt gone wrong. ...Makes one wonder about risking going down there, for sure!
https://www.outdoorlife.com/

[Sixes]

Just got this Outdoor Life Newsletter with an article about a Mexico Gould's hunt gone wrong. ...Makes one wonder about risking going down there, for sure!
https://www.outdoorlife.com/

It doesn't make me wonder about it, I am NOT going. No adventure is worth dying over

[deerhunt1988]

Just got this Outdoor Life Newsletter with an article about a Mexico Gould's hunt gone wrong. ...Makes one wonder about risking going down there, for sure!
https://www.outdoorlife.com/

Just read the story. And I've always wanted to go to Mexico, but NOPE! Not after reading that. Here is the link for others who want to read it.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival/ambushed-by-cartel-while-hunting-mexico/

[Dtrkyman]

I was potentially going down there to guide some mule deer hunts, the owner of the outfitting company was down there and had his Ford Raptor stolen at gun point.

He potentially owed some folks money but I have no idea what happened so I opted out of that guide trip!

I have a good friend who is Mexican and his parents retired down there, if I go I will roll with him!

Also 34 presidential candidates have been murdered since Sept. of 2023, WOW!

[joey46]

Just read the ODL story.  Well worth a quick look.  If anyone goes  

[Tom007]

No way on God's green earth would I or will I EVER go Mexico.....not this day and age.....

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This is where I'm at with this. Life's too short......

[joey46]

Add - Jim Shockey's BookYourHunt.com is listing two 2025 Mexico hunts on his web site.  He claims to give some type of guarantee but kidnapping may be excluded.  I'm remembering Meateater did a Mexican hunt but it was a while ago.  I'm still going to pass.