I’m a wingshooter at heart. My dad took me bird hunting as a kid and that turned into a passion that I continued for over 20 years as an outfitter in Argentina. But I’d never been to Mexico for a high-volume dove shoot. I was pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality of the resource. I visited one of our top outfitters in Sonora, Mexico in early December and found that this organization isn’t just winging it. They are experienced professionals whose hospitality and planning make it a must-visit destination for all wingshooters.
I traveled to Mexico to experience not only the high-volume dove hunting, and also the spectacular Gambel’s quail and Elegant quail. Plus, I had the opportunity to participate in the morning waterfowl hunts. This is truly a mixed bag hunt.
Traveling from the United States is incredibly simple. My one-hour flight from Phoenix arrived midday at the airport in Hermosillo, which only has three gates. There are no long immigration lines or customs hassles to worry about. Sergio, our host and the true jefe, along with his brother Pedro picked me up and within 30 minutes we were pulling in at Hacienda Las Palomas.
The rooms at the hacienda are spacious, comfortable, and clean, each with its own private bathroom. For lunch, the chef prepared excellent chicken, pork, and steak tacos served with authentic Mexican salsas, Pico de Gallo, and guacamole. It was a massive spread of the most delicious tacos I’ve ever had in my life.
With our appetites met, we headed to the dove fields not more than 20 minutes away from the hacienda. I was impressed by the incredible precision and attention to detail of the bird boys and staff. This level of professionalism continued throughout the entire three-day trip. The staff had everything we needed and more at all times. We found ourselves in the stunning landscape of the Sonoran Desert with an abundance of birds flying overhead. It was a truly unforgettable experience.
Early in the afternoon, we were shooting hot and heavy at the Whitewing doves. Then the faster and smaller mourning doves began their evening flights. Every hunter in the group averaged 10 boxes of shells in just a couple of hours, and we could have shot even more if we’d wanted to. The consistency and volume of birds throughout the afternoon was impressive. After the hunt, we were rewarded back at the hacienda with appetizers made from the game we had harvested and an incredible dinner served poolside with open fire stoves.
During the first evening of dove shooting, I couldn’t help but notice the enourmous numbers of Gambel’s quail running around in the underbrush! I went to bed that night thinking about quail and feeling excited for the next morning’s hunt.
The following morning, we set out to chase the incredibly fast, run-first, gem of North American upland game, Gambel’s quail. We had to move quickly to get behind these birds! The beauty of it was that the birds seek shelter from the sun during midday, so we could find them in gigantic coveys. We ran down one ravine with the flushers in the brush and shooters on either side. We experienced an amazing, explosive rise of a covey of more than 200 birds! It was a quite a sight, with the birds flying so fast and flat. The limits are generous, but you need to be on your game to keep up with these jet-powered quail.
At lunchtime we returned to the hacienda for more incredible Mexican cuisine prepared by the chef on staff. There was time for a siesta before an afternoon hunt in the dove fields for more consistently great shooting.
On the last morning, I had the opportunity to witness the waterfowl hunt at two different reservoirs near the hacienda. The blinds are dug in, and the cover is perfect. We had teal darting in and out of the decoys, while pintails, black ducks, and wigeon were working the spread from high above. It was a fantastic way to balance out this wingshooting trip. This destination truly has it all!
The staff is refined and incredibly courteous. Under the direction of Sergio and Pedro, who were raised in this industry, everyone on the staff knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Combined with the abundance of game, their attention to customer service makes this outfitter a true treasure in North American wingshooting.
Please contact me to take advantage of this incredible destination and experience high-quality wingshooting and hospitality just a few hours from home!
