LOCATION: STATE OF CHIHUAHUA
SPECIES: GOULD'S WILD TURKEY
HUNT TYPE: PRIVATE RANCH SELF GUIDED
OUTFITTER: LOVETT WILLIAMS AND SOCORRO MONTES
KIOTE CACTUS
FRIDAY 04-27-07: Robert Woods, Barry Woods, Ryan Mckillop and I arrived El Paso, Tx where we met
up with Lee Sabata and Billy Whitford to complete our 6 man group. We spent the night at the
Marriott and caught up on some stories with the fellas.
SATURDAY 04-28-07: Hector Valdez from Rancho Verde outfitters was at the hotel bright and early.
We left El Paso for a 3 hour drive to Casas Grande, Mx where the outfitter had made arrangements
for lunch at restaurant Constantina. After Lunch we started out on another 3 hour drive to take us
deep into the Sierra Madre Occidental for a 4 day self guided Goulds wild turkey adventure.
THE SECURE BOARDER? BASALT COLUMNS WINDOW ROCK BUENA VISTA
THE VALLEY THE MESAS EL RANCHO VERDE HECTORS KITCHEN
OUR ROOM BARRY PLAYING QUATTRO THE BOYS RELAXING TURKEY SLAYERS
SUNDAY 04-29-07: Our first day afield. We were up at 5 am to a chilly morning with a little
drizzle. After the freak spring weather in Kansas, I was hoping the weather cooperated with us for
a great hunt. We decided to split into groups of three, one shooter, one caller and a camera man.
Ryan, Billy and Lee went off with Jesus and Robert, Barry and I went with Vega. We got to our spot
well before sun up and Viga pointed out the roost trees (dormatorios) and set Robert up in the
blind. I ran the camera and Barry called. As soon as the sun started to break we heard a few
gobbles in the distance and one close by. A short while after the closest bird hit the ground his
gobbles became few and far between. After about an hour Barry got another gobbler hot and he came
in gobbling his head off. But, he came in Barry. I'm assuming he new exactly where those hen calls
were coming from. Robert was able to spin around in his blind to get pointed in the right
direction for a shot. I, however, was not so lucky with the camera. I could hear that gobbler and
he was close. I was not going to mess up the hunt by trying to get a good camera angle on him. I
just sat still and waited. A few seconds later I heard the alarm putt followed by a few quick
purrs. Then the sound of a shotgun blast. I turned around and the bird was gone. Robert missed. We
estimated the shot to be around 40 yards, but when your using a borrowed gun that to me is a risky
shot. We continued to hunt until 11:00 am with only a few distant gobblers sounding off. We headed
back to camp to eat and wait for the evening hunt.
The other group fared well and Lee shot the first gobbler of the trip 10:50 am. A nice looking
bird, but half the beard was missing. Lee shot it off! I couldn't believe it until he reached in
his bag to produce the rest of the beard he found scattered on the ground. Their was still one
measurable strand of hair giving him an 11" beard. Billy captured the kill on video.
LEE SABATA AND THE FIRST GOULDS OF THE TRIP
MONDAY 4-30-07: Up again at 5 am. It was chilly, but clear today looked like it was going to be a
great day. We chose to hunt in two man groups. Ryan and I were the first ones out of camp and Viga
drove us up the mountain. Robert and Barry left with Socorro, the owner of Rancho Verde. They
headed back to the same spot we hunted the previous day. Jesus took Lee and Billy to another
portion of the Rancho.
After a 40 minute car ride on some of the roughest trails in Mexico, we got to are hunt area. Viga
gave the usual 360 degree wave of the hand as he said, "gobble gobble, gobble gobble Y gobble
gobble. Mucho coconos." This was the day I learned the natives referred to turkeys as coconos not
juajalote like I thought. I checked my watch for the altitude reading and found we were at 10,000
ft. I couldn't believe it hunting turkey at 10,000 ft.
Viga got in his trusty Isuzu trooper and left us to hunt. Ryan and I set up waiting for the sun to
break and those gobblers to start sounding off. I checked the forest floor and saw it had been
tilled up by hungry turkeys. This spot looked promising.
As the sun broke much to our surprise not many gobbles and the wind didn't help our ability to
hear. We began to send out the occasional call and got the occasional response. We got one bird
fired up from what sounded like a mile away. We continued to throw calls his way. This is when I
began to wonder, can a gobbler control the volume of his gobble or did the terrain play a role in
deceiving us of his true location. The issue of gobblers and the ability to control the volume of
a gobble is something I have pondered in my mind for years. The turkey continued to gobble and we
continued to call. At one point he sounded extremely close and we waited for him to break out of
the ponderosa pines and show himself. Much to our surprise it never happened. Ryan and I decided
to get up and walk around the top of the mountain to locate a lonely gobbler. This is when we
located a fence was between us and the gobbler from earlier. I assumed this was why he never came
into gun range. After about and hour and no response to our calls we walked back to where Vega
dropped us off.
A short while later Viga emerged from the woods waving for us to follow him. As I caught up to him
he said gobble "cantar" while he pointed down the mountain. We walked back to the Isuzu and drove
down the mountain. We stopped and called twice and heard a gobble. We walked down the road and
gave another call. This time he was close we quickly set up and Ryan decided to call the turkey
and let me shoot. I examined the shotgun I had taken out this morning, a 1950's Winchester 12 ga 2
3/4" semi auto that had an adjustable choke and muzzle break, I wondered if maybe I should shoot
the Mossberg 835 Ryan had taken from camp. I thought to my self what the hell, I'm killing turkeys
at 10,000 ft I may as well try to kill one with an antique firearm. The Winchester was in. I set
up in the direction I thought the turkey would come from. Ryan gave a couple of series of soft
yelps from his glass. The gobbler was going nuts and getting close. All of the sudden I saw a full
snow white tipped fan at about 20 yards cresting a downed tree. I got up on the gun and waited for
the bird to give me a head shot. About 5 seconds and 5 yards later, just as I had planned, the
turkey gave me the perfect target and BOOM he was down. Ryan and I were on him quick. After the
classic celebratory high 5, I grabbed him. He was a nice mature 3 year old gobbler. It was picture
time with my first Goulds turkey. I couldn't believe how beautiful the bird was with his snow
white feather tips and greenish copper iridescence.
MY FIRST GOULDS TURKEY
Ryan and I continued to hunt for another hour, but no more gobbles to be heard. Vega picked us up
and we headed back to camp for lunch. After we got back to camp we found Billy admiring his first
Goulds a 20 lb hog with a 10.5" beard. Robert and Barry were the last ones in and Robert had shot
a nice bird after it flew off the roost and almost landed on him.
ROBERT'S FIRST GOULDS OUR BIRDS THREE HANGERS
TUESDAY 05-01-07: Up at 5 am again. Since all but two had their birds today we decided to hunt in
groups of three again. Ryan, Lee and I would hook up again with Viga. Robert, Barry and Billy
would head out with Jesus. Billy and Lee were the cameramen.
Viga drove us to an area of the Rancho that he estimated held 200+ turkeys. It was the spot we had
hunted the night before and I called in 2 hens, 6 Jakes and 1 long beard that Ryan never saw to
shoot. We roosted two birds that night and were happy to return.
As daylight broke the gobblers began the usual spring morning ritual by gobbling at anything and
everything. We set up and things were looking good. The Toms continued to gobble and we new by the
volume they were off the roost. I called every now and then to keep their interest, but to no
avail. There were to many hens and they were off in the opposite direction. We sat and waited for
a lone gobbler to hear my sweet yelps and stray our way, but it didn't happen. After a few more
minutes I heard some hens and a gobbler yelping up a storm about 300 yards to our east. We decided
to put a stalk on them and hopefully cut them off in the direction they were headed. After walking
for around 30 minutes we realized our attempt was futile, since they had the jump on us and they
were heading into the valley quick. I gave a few desperate calls on the trusty box and got a
gobble from what sounded like a mile away to our west. The gobbler was very responsive to calls
and we chose to go after him. After a short walk and a couple set ups we found ourselves in a nice
open meadow. A perfect place to call in that lonely Tom. We set up and I started calling. By the
sounds of his gobbles the then responsive Tom had suddenly began to head off in the opposite
direction. I gave a few more desperate attempts to call him back our way. Suddenly we had at least
3 more Toms gobbling with in 200 yards of us. Ryan set up under a nice big Ponderosa and I laid on
the soft yelps and clucks that most horny gobblers can't resist. After a few minutes here one came
strutting down the ridge. That bird gobbled so much I though he'd pass out before getting into
Ryan's sights. I continued to call and he continued to gobble. I watched him pick up speed as he
headed right to Ryan. It was perfect. I lost sight of him for just a moment as he past behind a
nice Juniper and I watched Ryan get into position. A second later he emerged from behind that tree
in full strut 20 yards from Ryan. He poked his head up to look for that hen and BOOM he was down.
Ryan had just killed his first Goulds. He was a beautiful bird that weighed 19 pounds and sported
a 9.5" beard. Ryan, Lee and I were ecstatic. Now that's what turkey hunting is all about.
RYAN WITH HIS FIRST GOULDS RYAN, VIGA and I
We returned to camp and saw Barry had also harvested a nice Goulds completing his Royal Slam.
BARRY'S GOULDS
That was it our hunt was over. All I can say is the country was beautiful and the people were
great. With the consensus of the rest of the group, that was the best turkey hunting experience
any of us has had. If you are serious about turkey hunting you must travel to Mexico and harvest a
Goulds, you will not regret it. I would like to thank Socorro Montes and his great group of guys.
We had a blast!
This was my last hunt of 2007 and I'm officially broke. Time to save up and start planning next
years spring flings. Stay tuned for 2008. Audios Amigos!
ROADRUNNER MAS TEQUILA
INDIAN GRINDING ROCKS SHUCKS WERE HEADING HOME
SPECIES: GOULD'S WILD TURKEY
HUNT TYPE: PRIVATE RANCH SELF GUIDED
OUTFITTER: LOVETT WILLIAMS AND SOCORRO MONTES
KIOTE CACTUS
FRIDAY 04-27-07: Robert Woods, Barry Woods, Ryan Mckillop and I arrived El Paso, Tx where we met
up with Lee Sabata and Billy Whitford to complete our 6 man group. We spent the night at the
Marriott and caught up on some stories with the fellas.
SATURDAY 04-28-07: Hector Valdez from Rancho Verde outfitters was at the hotel bright and early.
We left El Paso for a 3 hour drive to Casas Grande, Mx where the outfitter had made arrangements
for lunch at restaurant Constantina. After Lunch we started out on another 3 hour drive to take us
deep into the Sierra Madre Occidental for a 4 day self guided Goulds wild turkey adventure.
THE SECURE BOARDER? BASALT COLUMNS WINDOW ROCK BUENA VISTA
THE VALLEY THE MESAS EL RANCHO VERDE HECTORS KITCHEN
OUR ROOM BARRY PLAYING QUATTRO THE BOYS RELAXING TURKEY SLAYERS
SUNDAY 04-29-07: Our first day afield. We were up at 5 am to a chilly morning with a little
drizzle. After the freak spring weather in Kansas, I was hoping the weather cooperated with us for
a great hunt. We decided to split into groups of three, one shooter, one caller and a camera man.
Ryan, Billy and Lee went off with Jesus and Robert, Barry and I went with Vega. We got to our spot
well before sun up and Viga pointed out the roost trees (dormatorios) and set Robert up in the
blind. I ran the camera and Barry called. As soon as the sun started to break we heard a few
gobbles in the distance and one close by. A short while after the closest bird hit the ground his
gobbles became few and far between. After about an hour Barry got another gobbler hot and he came
in gobbling his head off. But, he came in Barry. I'm assuming he new exactly where those hen calls
were coming from. Robert was able to spin around in his blind to get pointed in the right
direction for a shot. I, however, was not so lucky with the camera. I could hear that gobbler and
he was close. I was not going to mess up the hunt by trying to get a good camera angle on him. I
just sat still and waited. A few seconds later I heard the alarm putt followed by a few quick
purrs. Then the sound of a shotgun blast. I turned around and the bird was gone. Robert missed. We
estimated the shot to be around 40 yards, but when your using a borrowed gun that to me is a risky
shot. We continued to hunt until 11:00 am with only a few distant gobblers sounding off. We headed
back to camp to eat and wait for the evening hunt.
The other group fared well and Lee shot the first gobbler of the trip 10:50 am. A nice looking
bird, but half the beard was missing. Lee shot it off! I couldn't believe it until he reached in
his bag to produce the rest of the beard he found scattered on the ground. Their was still one
measurable strand of hair giving him an 11" beard. Billy captured the kill on video.
LEE SABATA AND THE FIRST GOULDS OF THE TRIP
MONDAY 4-30-07: Up again at 5 am. It was chilly, but clear today looked like it was going to be a
great day. We chose to hunt in two man groups. Ryan and I were the first ones out of camp and Viga
drove us up the mountain. Robert and Barry left with Socorro, the owner of Rancho Verde. They
headed back to the same spot we hunted the previous day. Jesus took Lee and Billy to another
portion of the Rancho.
After a 40 minute car ride on some of the roughest trails in Mexico, we got to are hunt area. Viga
gave the usual 360 degree wave of the hand as he said, "gobble gobble, gobble gobble Y gobble
gobble. Mucho coconos." This was the day I learned the natives referred to turkeys as coconos not
juajalote like I thought. I checked my watch for the altitude reading and found we were at 10,000
ft. I couldn't believe it hunting turkey at 10,000 ft.
Viga got in his trusty Isuzu trooper and left us to hunt. Ryan and I set up waiting for the sun to
break and those gobblers to start sounding off. I checked the forest floor and saw it had been
tilled up by hungry turkeys. This spot looked promising.
As the sun broke much to our surprise not many gobbles and the wind didn't help our ability to
hear. We began to send out the occasional call and got the occasional response. We got one bird
fired up from what sounded like a mile away. We continued to throw calls his way. This is when I
began to wonder, can a gobbler control the volume of his gobble or did the terrain play a role in
deceiving us of his true location. The issue of gobblers and the ability to control the volume of
a gobble is something I have pondered in my mind for years. The turkey continued to gobble and we
continued to call. At one point he sounded extremely close and we waited for him to break out of
the ponderosa pines and show himself. Much to our surprise it never happened. Ryan and I decided
to get up and walk around the top of the mountain to locate a lonely gobbler. This is when we
located a fence was between us and the gobbler from earlier. I assumed this was why he never came
into gun range. After about and hour and no response to our calls we walked back to where Vega
dropped us off.
A short while later Viga emerged from the woods waving for us to follow him. As I caught up to him
he said gobble "cantar" while he pointed down the mountain. We walked back to the Isuzu and drove
down the mountain. We stopped and called twice and heard a gobble. We walked down the road and
gave another call. This time he was close we quickly set up and Ryan decided to call the turkey
and let me shoot. I examined the shotgun I had taken out this morning, a 1950's Winchester 12 ga 2
3/4" semi auto that had an adjustable choke and muzzle break, I wondered if maybe I should shoot
the Mossberg 835 Ryan had taken from camp. I thought to my self what the hell, I'm killing turkeys
at 10,000 ft I may as well try to kill one with an antique firearm. The Winchester was in. I set
up in the direction I thought the turkey would come from. Ryan gave a couple of series of soft
yelps from his glass. The gobbler was going nuts and getting close. All of the sudden I saw a full
snow white tipped fan at about 20 yards cresting a downed tree. I got up on the gun and waited for
the bird to give me a head shot. About 5 seconds and 5 yards later, just as I had planned, the
turkey gave me the perfect target and BOOM he was down. Ryan and I were on him quick. After the
classic celebratory high 5, I grabbed him. He was a nice mature 3 year old gobbler. It was picture
time with my first Goulds turkey. I couldn't believe how beautiful the bird was with his snow
white feather tips and greenish copper iridescence.
MY FIRST GOULDS TURKEY
Ryan and I continued to hunt for another hour, but no more gobbles to be heard. Vega picked us up
and we headed back to camp for lunch. After we got back to camp we found Billy admiring his first
Goulds a 20 lb hog with a 10.5" beard. Robert and Barry were the last ones in and Robert had shot
a nice bird after it flew off the roost and almost landed on him.
ROBERT'S FIRST GOULDS OUR BIRDS THREE HANGERS
TUESDAY 05-01-07: Up at 5 am again. Since all but two had their birds today we decided to hunt in
groups of three again. Ryan, Lee and I would hook up again with Viga. Robert, Barry and Billy
would head out with Jesus. Billy and Lee were the cameramen.
Viga drove us to an area of the Rancho that he estimated held 200+ turkeys. It was the spot we had
hunted the night before and I called in 2 hens, 6 Jakes and 1 long beard that Ryan never saw to
shoot. We roosted two birds that night and were happy to return.
As daylight broke the gobblers began the usual spring morning ritual by gobbling at anything and
everything. We set up and things were looking good. The Toms continued to gobble and we new by the
volume they were off the roost. I called every now and then to keep their interest, but to no
avail. There were to many hens and they were off in the opposite direction. We sat and waited for
a lone gobbler to hear my sweet yelps and stray our way, but it didn't happen. After a few more
minutes I heard some hens and a gobbler yelping up a storm about 300 yards to our east. We decided
to put a stalk on them and hopefully cut them off in the direction they were headed. After walking
for around 30 minutes we realized our attempt was futile, since they had the jump on us and they
were heading into the valley quick. I gave a few desperate calls on the trusty box and got a
gobble from what sounded like a mile away to our west. The gobbler was very responsive to calls
and we chose to go after him. After a short walk and a couple set ups we found ourselves in a nice
open meadow. A perfect place to call in that lonely Tom. We set up and I started calling. By the
sounds of his gobbles the then responsive Tom had suddenly began to head off in the opposite
direction. I gave a few more desperate attempts to call him back our way. Suddenly we had at least
3 more Toms gobbling with in 200 yards of us. Ryan set up under a nice big Ponderosa and I laid on
the soft yelps and clucks that most horny gobblers can't resist. After a few minutes here one came
strutting down the ridge. That bird gobbled so much I though he'd pass out before getting into
Ryan's sights. I continued to call and he continued to gobble. I watched him pick up speed as he
headed right to Ryan. It was perfect. I lost sight of him for just a moment as he past behind a
nice Juniper and I watched Ryan get into position. A second later he emerged from behind that tree
in full strut 20 yards from Ryan. He poked his head up to look for that hen and BOOM he was down.
Ryan had just killed his first Goulds. He was a beautiful bird that weighed 19 pounds and sported
a 9.5" beard. Ryan, Lee and I were ecstatic. Now that's what turkey hunting is all about.
RYAN WITH HIS FIRST GOULDS RYAN, VIGA and I
We returned to camp and saw Barry had also harvested a nice Goulds completing his Royal Slam.
BARRY'S GOULDS
That was it our hunt was over. All I can say is the country was beautiful and the people were
great. With the consensus of the rest of the group, that was the best turkey hunting experience
any of us has had. If you are serious about turkey hunting you must travel to Mexico and harvest a
Goulds, you will not regret it. I would like to thank Socorro Montes and his great group of guys.
We had a blast!
This was my last hunt of 2007 and I'm officially broke. Time to save up and start planning next
years spring flings. Stay tuned for 2008. Audios Amigos!
ROADRUNNER MAS TEQUILA
INDIAN GRINDING ROCKS SHUCKS WERE HEADING HOME
