GUNS Magazine January 1960

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Mexican jungles swarm with wild pigs, both collared peccary and white-lipped javelina (left). A native guide (above) packs one through typical mountain jungle. Why Not Tty JleJdeo? THERE'S FABULOUS HUNTING SOUTH OF THE BORDER IF YOU CAN GET PAST THE BARRIERS, AND HERE ARE SOME WAYS AROUND THEM Javelina roam in large bands, are hunted with dogs or by trackers. A herd may number 25 or more animals. By RUSSELL TINSLEY THE VAST, MOUNTAINOUS, jungle country south of Mexico City still is an untamed wilderness, unexploited for big-game hunting. It probably will remain that way for many years to come. Today, little is known in the United States about Mexican hunting, and at times it is rather difficult to separate fact from fiction. The Mexican Government gives out little information on hunting in the country; in fact, the government actually doesn't know much abo1.!t hunting, nor does it attempt to exploit tourist hunting trade. Yet in this wild region there is a wide variety of game animals to appeal to the American hunter. The most-sought prize is that dangerous and elusive cat, the jaguar. But jaguar hunting, at its best, is still a long-shot gamble. It might require weeks even to see one, much longer to get a shot. Jaguars are few and far between. Marshal "Tex" 38 GUNS JANUARY 1960
Purvis, former outfitter in Mexico, says there are· many claims of jaguars being sighted, but when hunters go after the phantom cats they usually are chasing an unfounded rumor. "A hunter's only reasonably fair chance of getting a jaguar is by hunting with good, trained cat hounds," Purvis explained. "Of course, the hunter may get one by other means, such as hunting with a native guide, but the chances are so slim that the odds are not even worth mentioning." But it is the challenge of the elusive cat which, more than anything else, lures American hunters South of the Border, and this is not as it should be, since there is fabulous hunting of other game which should delight the hunter even if he should fail to get a chance at a jaguar. One of the better possibilities in javelina. There is an astronomical population of these wild pigs in the junglecovered mountains, both collared peccary (javelina) " the specie found in Texas and Arizona, and the white-lipped javelina which ranges primarily in South and Central America. There are various smaller cats which are easier to hunt and kill and are more plentiful than the jaguar. One is the oceloue, a cat similar to the jaguar but smaller, and the jaguroarondi, another minature replica of the jaguar. Deer are plentiful in most areas. There are three major species-red brocker deer, whitetail deer, and coues deer. The red brockcr deer is a tiny animal with a maximum height of 29 inches. It scampers through the jungle much like a jackrabbit and offers a sporting target for the hunter. The whitetail is the same deer which ranges throughout the United States. The coues is a dwarf whitetail, an aver. age buck weighing 75-85 pounds. The javelinas roam in large, wandering bands. Some natives hunt them with dogs, but the majority of Mexicans track them down. They search until they discover fresh sign, then remain on the trail until they sight the nomad herd, which often numbers as many as 25 or more animals. Cats are usually hunted with dogs, and frequently one of the smaller varieties of wildcats is treed and killed Big lizards steal chickens, make fast-moving targets for plinkers. Dangerous, elusive, the jaguar is usually hunted with dogs, can be tolled in at night with gourd game-calls like one guide uses (below). when hunting jaguars. The more intrepid native guides hunt the big cats at night, with calls made from gourds. They also will answer a dying-rabbit predator call. Deer hunting, Mexican style, is similar to deer hunting in the States. They are killed in drives, off stands, or by still-hunting through the jungle growths. Other game possibilities run the gamut from topnotch bird shooting for royal jungle pheasant and chacalaca, to big-game hunting for alligator and giant Baird's tapir, to plinking for iguana lizards and marta (otter). The large lizards are particularly plentiful, and often they steal into Mexican villages to steal chickens. They offer grand shooting sport for the .22 enthusiast. The royal jungle pheasant grows as large as an American wild turkey. Mostly they are stalked and shot from trees, since they seldom fly. The chacalaca resembles the grouse in a way, only it is smaller. It is a wing-shooter's delight, reacting much like the grouse in flight. The particular game the hunter seeks depends on the particular area where he hunts, naturally. Southern Mexico is a vast, wild area and hunting varies with each individaul region. Hunting seasons are (Continued on page 4.0) GUNS JANUARY 1960 39
Page 1 and 2: .JANUARY 1960 SOc THE BIG LITTLE .2
Page 10: MAN. WHAT A BARGAIN! True West. Fro
Page 17 and 18: CROWNS NEW TRAP CREA.TS Top trap ch
Page 19 and 20: Long range with remaining energy of
Page 21 and 22: What happens to the shooter's hand?
Page 23 and 24: Alaskan outfitter DeHart poses behi
Page 25 and 26: AT SIGN OF GOOD HUNTING. TREE FARMS
Page 28 and 29: Key to better shooting can be prope
Page 30 and 31: Spotting shots for prone rifleman r
Page 32: Short 1Ilh" stock is just right for
Page 52: EDWARD H. BOHLIN Original Designer
Page 68: BIG GAME OR VARMINT ... open countr

GUNS Magazine January 1960

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