Hunting&Fishing

A Sportsman’s
Paradise
in any Language
“This is Patrick Starnes”, the voice said when I answered my phone. Patrick went on to tell me that he lives in San Antonio but manages
a ranch in Tamaulipas. “Tamaulipas?” “Where in the world is Tamaulipas?” I asked. That first conversation turned into some incredible
hunting and fishing adventures but more importantly, a half dozen life long friendships.
Patrick went on to tell me that he wanted me to come down to his ranch in Tamaulipas to produce a couple episodes for my TV show,
The Journey. “You can get a buck, two Javelina and a couple feral hogs in 3 days”, he boasted. I told him that I’m a bowhunter. He replied,
“Yeah, I know”.
I’ve been around the block a time or two and when someone makes a claim like that on a low fence hunt, red flags start popping up like
daisies. But Patrick spoke with such confidence, I thought I’d risk the time and price of an airline ticket.
Two weeks later we were pulling into “Rancho Bonanza” and I saw my first glimpse of this paradise called Tamaulipas. 12 private rooms
with private baths and a huge lodge area for meals and conversations. I gave “Rancho Bonanza” 5 stars on the accommodations on that
first hunt. The meals turned out to be so good that I ran out of stars. Like, off the charts good.
But you want to know about the hunting. What can I say? This bowhunter shot a 150-class whitetail, two javelina and two feral hogs on a
three-day hunt. I was flinging arrows like Robin Hood. Patrick Starnes delivered good on his promise.
That was 4 years ago and I return to Tamaulipas every chance I get. I see a bright future there for all of us who love to hunt and fish. Tamaulipas
has it all. Great whitetail genetics and room for the bucks to grow unpressured. Bonus animals such as javelina and wild boar. Dove hunting like I
have never seen (and I’ve been to Bolivia, twice). Tamaulipas has better dove hunting at half the cost of traveling to South America. Tamaulipas
is also home to the absolute best bass fishing I have ever witnessed. Even I can catch a 10 pounder on Sugar Lake.
I’ve had the great honor of meeting with Governor Cabeza de Vaca and Hunting & Fishing Commissioner, Marcelo Fernandez. I value their
friendship and am very impressed with their vision and goal to make Tamaulipas a sportsman’s paradise for generations to come. I can’t
wait to bring my children. Yes, I would take my children to Tamaulipas. Don’t believe the fake news. In my 21 trips to Tamaulipas I have
not only felt very safe, I was met with handshakes and smiles everywhere I went. I can’t wait to return.
Log on to www.HuntFishMexico.com for more information.
About the author:
Dave Watson is a veteran television producer based in Phoenix, Arizona. He has created and produced 8 successful television series
such as, “Secrets of the Hunt”, “Cabela’s Memories in the Field” and “Mathews TV”. His current productions are “The Journey” and
“Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild”, both airing on Outdoor Channel.