So you think you want to head to Mexico for a Goulds turkey?

[birddogdad]

https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival/ambushed-by-cartel-while-hunting-mexico/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0x6dyzv0vJfdlxgCVDIDGPU8Wyac96al6Y8kzzVi82fDDoR0c0AgRsmP8_aem_ARbQO7tfCipqwbyBvJUzwNcdpFN_jVVK-6l482h_6X8LKQ9lGbodwdi_3_107uGd5yDw2x9CMIss7q16YAIjeXN6

Parrey is a great guy and this read is a reality check!

[millerwheeler]

Good article. Tough situation. I’m happy to hear they walked away

[Tree Killer]

I just made a set of arrows for a fella in Durango, Mexico.  Just so happens he guides stickbow hunters for Goulds Turkeys.
Guess I don't really need to go shoot a Goulds. 

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Way glad these dudes are alright.

Its a reality of international travel. A very unfortunate situation. When I went on my Gould's trip there was a huge shoot out between the cartel and police where the Cartel took down the head of the police for the whole state. It happened in the town less than 2 hours from camp where we needed to drive home through the next day.

There are some things to learn from this story and mine. Our rigs were beater vehicles and I now really understand why. If your guide has a junk rig, that's a good thing!

The head of our hunt stopped for gas in the town where the shoot out was despite the other guides not wanting too. Ask your guides the hard questions but also trust them to keep you safe.

Lastly, expect these things to happen .... I have done a lot of international traveling for mission and philanthropic work into some nasty places. The more "dangerous" the are is the better you need to know the language or have someone with you that does. Just like this guy I have paid my way out of countless situations (fortunately). Last trip to Mexico it was my hunting boots the military guy at the check station wanted. In Nicaragua it was all the cash I had. They often arent looking to kill you but for something.

While on our Goulds trip actually we heard of another group on an Oscellated hunt in tents in the jungle of the Yucatan. The cartel found them, took all there guns, money, and passports. Its all material. Give it all up if you  have too because your life and coming home is priceless. They know that.

I head to Rwanda in October to build a trail bridge with B2P ... wish me luck.

[Cougartail]

You don't have to go international to be in danger from the Cartel. Homeland Security dug up two bodies by a old empty house east of Yakima. According to the guy who bought it, it was a Cartel execution?

[dylanb]

putting plans together for a coues hunt in january 2026. sure makes a guy think about things

[hunterednate]

Wow. What a story. Scott Haugen is an excellent writer and I'm glad he's ok. The cartels are out of control. Thanks for sharing this.

[go4steelhd]

This is terrible, I’m glad they made it out alive

[Russ McDonald]

Talked to some people in Nashville that go to Mexico often to hunt with the same outfitter.  This last time then outfitter told him don't come back.  Yhe guy thought he had did something wrong and asked why don't you want me to come back.  The outfitter said that the cartel is taking over outfitters to traffic and launder money and he was going to shut it down before that happened to him.  Crazy stuff.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

Way glad these dudes are alright.

Its a reality of international travel. A very unfortunate situation. When I went on my Gould's trip there was a huge shoot out between the cartel and police where the Cartel took down the head of the police for the whole state. It happened in the town less than 2 hours from camp where we needed to drive home through the next day.

There are some things to learn from this story and mine. Our rigs were beater vehicles and I now really understand why. If your guide has a junk rig, that's a good thing!

The head of our hunt stopped for gas in the town where the shoot out was despite the other guides not wanting too. Ask your guides the hard questions but also trust them to keep you safe.

Lastly, expect these things to happen .... I have done a lot of international traveling for mission and philanthropic work into some nasty places. The more "dangerous" the are is the better you need to know the language or have someone with you that does. Just like this guy I have paid my way out of countless situations (fortunately). Last trip to Mexico it was my hunting boots the military guy at the check station wanted. In Nicaragua it was all the cash I had. They often arent looking to kill you but for something.

While on our Goulds trip actually we heard of another group on an Oscellated hunt in tents in the jungle of the Yucatan. The cartel found them, took all there guns, money, and passports. Its all material. Give it all up if you  have too because your life and coming home is priceless. They know that.

I head to Rwanda in October to build a trail bridge with B2P ... wish me luck.

just doesn’t seem worth it to risk your life so many times, you are a much better person than me, but my wife and kids mean more to me than trying to help people that are out to rob and possibly kill me.  Do you have a death wish? Not trying to be a dick but even your last sentence says it all?  I’ll wish you luck and even say a prayer but to me my life with my family trumps everyone else. 

[30.06]

Wow. What a story. Scott Haugen is an excellent writer and I'm glad he's ok. The cartels are out of control. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Way glad these dudes are alright.

Its a reality of international travel. A very unfortunate situation. When I went on my Gould's trip there was a huge shoot out between the cartel and police where the Cartel took down the head of the police for the whole state. It happened in the town less than 2 hours from camp where we needed to drive home through the next day.

There are some things to learn from this story and mine. Our rigs were beater vehicles and I now really understand why. If your guide has a junk rig, that's a good thing!

The head of our hunt stopped for gas in the town where the shoot out was despite the other guides not wanting too. Ask your guides the hard questions but also trust them to keep you safe.

Lastly, expect these things to happen .... I have done a lot of international traveling for mission and philanthropic work into some nasty places. The more "dangerous" the are is the better you need to know the language or have someone with you that does. Just like this guy I have paid my way out of countless situations (fortunately). Last trip to Mexico it was my hunting boots the military guy at the check station wanted. In Nicaragua it was all the cash I had. They often arent looking to kill you but for something.

While on our Goulds trip actually we heard of another group on an Oscellated hunt in tents in the jungle of the Yucatan. The cartel found them, took all there guns, money, and passports. Its all material. Give it all up if you  have too because your life and coming home is priceless. They know that.

I head to Rwanda in October to build a trail bridge with B2P ... wish me luck.

just doesn’t seem worth it to risk your life so many times, you are a much better person than me, but my wife and kids mean more to me than trying to help people that are out to rob and possibly kill me.  Do you have a death wish? Not trying to be a dick but even your last sentence says it all?  I’ll wish you luck and even say a prayer but to me my life with my family trumps everyone else.

You're not a dick for asking at all. This story posted is a great reminder. I have slowed down tremendously.... especially since I got a family. I met my wife on that Nicaragua trip actually so I thank God for that opportunity and now family I have because of it. We were from the same home town and had never met before in our lives. That was in '15. Gould's was in '22. Rwanda is '24. B2P has pulled out of Central America because of ROI on the bridges but also safety. I have heard nothing but good things from friends that have done the Rwanda trip but things happen like one said even being here in a America. Much of my experience is from 2000 - 2015 I would travel every single year for 1 wk to 2 mo. So being on a "drought" if you will has me needing to go again but less frequent. I didnt think I was going to get picked to go this year. The trip is highly sought after and it was my first time putting in with my new employer so thought it would take 3 years to be selected for the team. I wont even put my name down for another 5 years after this one. Though I do have a strong strong sense to serve. I do here at home too dont get me wrong. My wife and I had that conversation. What more can I do here to replace a trip abroad and we decided that I should do both. AND I do have a threshold, there are places or things I will avoid. BUT going to help a remote village or going on a hunt puts you in remote places. If you were going to be engaged by bad people that's where the engagements are likely to happen. There are ways to hopefully avoid them, but just like we carry an inreach into the backcountry of BC, WY, MT, etc you need to always prepare yourself for the worst and that was my point. Ask the guide for the route to camp from the boarder or airport and give it to your significant other and the sharpest friend you have. Have the closest embassy and law enforcement number posted on your fridge. Call it before you leave with your spouse. I do the same things when I go hunting here and in Canada. Here is the number for the local rcmp/sheriff's office. Here are the relevant hospitals. If I was going hunting in the backcountry wilderness I would be saying the same thing.... wish me luck... that everything goes to plan and I come home safe to my family.

Im super glad Scott made it out alive.

[trophyhunt]

You have covered everything, I can’t question what you do now, sorry.  You really are a better person than I, I just wouldn’t risk it.  I think you are an amazing person and I know nothing about you.  God speed and take care!

[follow maggie]

Reminds me of one of Jim Shockey’s shows where he had a similar situation with crooked cops in Mexico. It was pretty hairy for them.

[Craig]

I have a Goulds turkey hunt scheduled for this April. have to be careful. listen to the guides and hopefully like 95% or more of trips are uneventful when it comes to trouble. Not bringing my own gun, not bringing mt own expensive binos or anything like that. will just use the guides stuff.