Mexico
September 19, 2016
Just got back from Steve McCain’s La Finca lodge. Shocked… Great lodge with a hard-working staff…The doves started flying at 7:15am and by 8:30am, I’d shot enough. Ten boxes and about 150 white wings. Spectacular shoot. I shot a 28 gauge Beretta. Saw some bobwhites too…I’m going back.

Mexico has birds, lots of birds. I’m repeating myself when I say, “Mexico has the highest volume of wild bird shooting outside of South America.” I like hunting in Mexico.

Steve McCain, owner/outfitter of La Finca Lodge extended an invitation to me. His lodge is on the outskirts of San Fernando—a small town only 85 miles from Brownsville, Texas. I met up with Steve at the Brownsville Airport, hopped in his truck, and we headed to the border. Crossing into Mexico was a simple affair that took less than five minutes. The drive to La Finca was on an excellent highway with little traffic. His lodge and compound exceeded my expectations. His facility has 14 large bedrooms with private bath and A/C. The courtyard has a pool and hot tub. The dining and lounging areas are spacious. Steve has an impressive fleet of hunting vehicles and transport vans, plus an airboat.

Steve’s been hunting the San Fernando area for over 20 years and knows it well. His clients hunt decoying ducks in the Laguna Madre, as well as countless private ponds. Wild bobwhite quail and doves are hunted on large farm and ranch leases. I hunted doves one morning and managed to shoot ten boxes in a little over an hour, but hunters can expect to shoot 10-20 boxes per hunt. I had heard reports of fantastic shooting, but this time, I experienced it first-hand. McCain quail leases are home to more wild bobwhites than anywhere else, and, hard-core duck hunters tell me that the Laguna Madre and surrounding areas has, arguably, the best duck shooting in the world. Duck and quail limits are liberal, and there is no limit on doves. (Call me for more info on harvest numbers.)

In regard to safety, not surprisingly, the first question I’m asked about concerning hunting in Mexico is security. In the past four years, Steve has hosted 200-400 clients each season without a single safety issue. San Fernando is flourishing again because of its strong sense of security. For the local people, life is back to normal. There is a strong Federal police presence in the area and everyone is glad to see it.

For the hunter who enjoys high-volume shooting, South America is tough to beat. But today, many hunters don’t want to spend a minimum of ten hours on an airplane to get there. La Finca is close and easily accessible. With advance notice, hunters can bring their favorite shotgun or rent a gun from the lodge. Steve’s bird hunts are an excellent value. He offers combination hunts and his three-day dove shoots are $2250 per hunter. In 2017, I plan to host a couple of hunts. If you’re interested in joining me, give me a call. Check out the attached PDF highlighting La Finca’s lodge and wing shooting.

In October, our hunters reported super pheasant hunts in South Dakota. November is busy with our friends traveling to the Bahamas, Argentina, Baja Mexico, and Texas. 2016 was a great year for our folks who ventured to Africa, and sometime soon, I’ll send the photos to prove it!

For now, if I can help with a future trip, give me a call. Also, feel free to forward this report to friends who may want to book an adventure.

Good Hunting,
Gordie