South of the Border: Perseverance

South of the Border

Perseverance
By Arnold Sandoval

Trophy mule deer hunting can be a tough business, even in Old Mexico. Granted, we do have great genetics, older age class deer and vast tracts of land to help supplement low densities in the desert. Even so, most first time desert hunters have unrealistic expectations. The odds of finding a record book size buck anywhere, including Mexico, are really marginal. Can it be done? Sure it can, it happens every year. With dedication, a positive attitude, and a sprinkle of luck, anything is possible.

I often get asked whether I can guarantee a hunter a 200-inch mule deer. Here is my answer to that. Nobody can promise you a 200-inch deer! If they do, then you have the following two options. Book with them and find out whether or not they can live up to that promise. Or, as is probably more accurate, stay way clear of that outfit. Are there 200-inch class deer in Sonora? Yes, without a doubt! Last season, one of my hunters killed a 202-inch typical that nets just shy of 200-inches B&C. The best part is that he swears he missed a better buck just a few days earlier in his hunt. You just never know what you may find out in the desert. This is what makes hunting in Sonora so exciting.

I often hear hunters tell me that they won’t shoot anything under 190-inches. Upon further questioning, you quickly find out that they’ve never seen a buck that would score even close to that. To make things worse, they wouldn’t know the difference between a 170 and a 190-class muley if it was standing broadside at ten feet. Most of their trophy judging “experience” comes from magazine articles harping on that magical 30-inch wide mark. The average hunter does not understand the Boone and Crockett scoring system. You need to familiarize yourself with the scoring system if you want to put your name in the record book. Sheer width won’t do it. I’ve seen some super wide bucks that wouldn’t score. That doesn’t mean I’d pass them up, because I probably wouldn’t. Conversely, there are quite a few deer in the book with only 24 to 28-inch widths. Lots of air between the ears doesn’t always result in a high score when adding up points. These narrow book deer usually possess main beam length, deep forks and symmetry which are paramount.

Personally, I’m not necessarily looking for a buck that strictly scores in the book. If I happen to find that, well great! I prefer a buck with character. Character is defined differently for everyone. Figure out what excites you and set that as a goal. It might be a buck with extra forks, drop tines, palmations, mass, etc. The deer in Mexico definitely have lots of character.

My recommendation is to set realistic, attainable goals as far as trophy size is concerned. Don’t expect the world, but greet it if it comes your way. There are lucky hunters who always seem to stumble on good fortune, but don’t count on it. There’s always a story about a novice hunter who wakes up late and lady luck places the trophy of a lifetime in his path. If you really think your hunt is guaranteed to go that way, then I’ve got some prime swampland for sale in Sonora. When I look for the mold of an ideal desert hunter, I don’t have to look too far. Martin Baker’s name keeps popping up in my mind. Here’s a guy who had no true mule deer experience some years back. He was fresh clay in my hands and was molded accordingly. His entire hunting experience when we first met was limited to whitetails. He quickly adapted and learned that patience in Mexico is essential. He didn’t see the numbers of animals he was accustomed to. He quickly learned that numbers mean nothing when it comes to trophy hunting in Sonora.

Martin has the one thing that is most needed when hunting in Old Mexico, perseverance. In my opinion, this is the most important quality a hunter could possess. It’s the mental and physical dedication to continue on through pain and hardship when your mind and body say otherwise. This determination is what sets Martin apart from many others - and success is an extension of this determination. He maintains a positive attitude throughout. He will walk until both he and his guide are on the verge of collapse. He has earned the respect of all the guides who, in return, would do anything for him.

While success has been steady for Martin, it has not always been easy. Last season was no exception. Martin’s guide, also named Martin, and he set out eagerly every morning. Both Martins are positive personalities and failure really isn’t an option for either one. The guide found a good size buck track one day and felt it was a buck worthy of locating. Martin is a relentless tracker and lives to outsmart old bucks. This particular buck sent them through wide open desert country filled with thorny cholla cactus and oceans of thick palo verde trees. This didn’t deter either of the Martins who stayed on his tail. Martin, the guide, soon realized that the buck kept enough of a lead that it might be a task covering several days to find him. He knew that this hunter would keep up with him if he attempted this chore.

Over the next few days, the Martins stayed on the track but always seemed to be a jump behind the buck. They continued tracking this deer and only decided to let up if they stumbled across a track larger than his. When asked if he wanted to try finding another buck, he responded, “Let me talk to Martin and see what he thinks. Whatever he feels is best, I’m fine with.” He continually places faith in the real expert, his guide. Most North American hunters tend to get easily discouraged after a few days of not seeing much in the desert. This can be a costly mistake. A few seasons back, Martin hunted one particular lease for a week straight. They’d found a great track and went after this buck hard. The buck outsmarted them every time, but they never relented. They covered just about every inch of the lease and I offered to move him somewhere else. Both he and his guide refused. Finally, after countless miles, they realized the only way to kill this buck was to stay two steps ahead of him. His guide got very creative and anticipated the buck’s next move. It worked like a charm and they ambushed a super buck over 200-inches.

Back to our story… The weather changed over the next few days with rain blanketing the desert country. The Martins picked up the buck’s track early the following day and stayed on it. Martin, the guide, felt confident he would finally come face to face with the buck sometime soon. Several hours later, Martin told Martin (the hunter) that he felt they were closing in. They pressed on and a short time later rounded a palo verde tree and came face to face with the bedded buck only a few feet away! Everyone was startled. The buck immediately jumped up and lunged forward. Martin instinctively shot from the hip and dropped him a few yards away. He was a great looking buck who taped out to 32-inches wide. This buck was yet another notch in Martin’s arsenal of big Sonoran mule deer adventures.

Tags: arnold sandoval, HI35, south of the border

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