By Richard Martin

For those of you who need that last feather in your grand slam hat or for those looking for something a little bit different, I have the hunt for you. I recently had the distinct pleasure of hunting Gould’s Wild Turkey in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Durango, Mexico at El Durangueno Ranch. The ranch consists of 55,000 acres of privately owned mountains, canyons, pine forests, oak forests and plains.

My preparations began at Mark’s Outdoor Sports, where I updated much of my camo clothing. Leaving from Birmingham, I flew one-and-a-half hours to Houston, Texas where I met my hunting companions. We then embarked on a short flight to Durango, Mexico, an old favorite of John Wayne. Several of the El Durangueno guides met us at the airport, and after a brief stop at a nearby Wal-Mart, we set off for the Ranch in a very nice, 2-way radio-equipped 4 x 4 Suburban. The two-hour drive up the mountain was the most difficult part of our trip, but our excitement about the upcoming hunt overshadowed the dips and bumps of the rugged terrain.

Alonso Ayala, proprietor of El Durangueno Ranch, welcomed us upon our arrival. Mr. Ayala, a fine and most gracious gentleman, served as our host for the entire hunt. No detail was left untended in the superb accommodations of El Durangueno Ranch, and each morning, the gentleman who tends the house awakened us. The meals were prepared from scratch and served in style with the cuisine ranging from Alaskan salmon to steak to local specialties including tortillas made from corn hand-ground on site. An open bar was available daily after the hunt.

The first morning, we were paired with our personal guides for the three-and –a-half days of hunting. Transportation was by 4 x 4 truck. The mornings were cool as we hunted at elevations between 8,000-9,000 feet. Due to the very dry air, however, the temperatures never felt cold. The afternoon hunts were always comfortable.

The hunting was almost unbelievable. I heard and saw turkey beginning five minutes into my first hunt and through the final hunt on our last morning. All seven of us on the trip saw more birds than we had ever witnessed on previous hunts. As several of my companions are well-traveled, experienced turkey hunters, this is no small statement.

One of my friends took what will be the number 6 Gould’s, and this same individual passed up what may well have been a new world record. Considering that the pending world record Gould’s turkey was in the freezer at the ranch house and that my friend’s guide, who had spotted that turkey as well, stated this turkey was even larger, I am not exaggerating at all. Another friend spotted nine mature long beards within 30 yards of himself at the same time.

Simply put, the birds were everywhere. On any given hunt, one might bring home a new world record. I took three birds. Among these, the longest beard was 11 1/8 inches, and the largest spur was one inch. The heaviest bird weighed 20.14 pounds. I missed getting a bird that had perhaps a 13-inch beard, but one could hardly complain. Between the absolute beauty of the mountains, the incredible number and size of the turkeys, and the wonderful food and camaraderie, one could easily think that he had found heaven (or at least a slice of it).

For anyone considering a Gould’s hunt, this is the spot. I felt safe the entire trip. The accommodations and the service provided are as nice, and probably nicer, than anything you have experienced on a hunt. Mr. Ayala is a superb gentleman who goes out of his way to ensure that his guests have the hunt of their lives- and we did.

Information about El Durangueno Ranch can be found at www.ranchodurango.com