05/06/2024
This past season was one of the best all time for Agua Dulce Outfitters. Our desert mule deer hunters were 100% with a couple taking two excellent trophies. Sheep hunters took six very nice rams keeping us at 100% all time for desert bighorn sheep.
Success rates for deer hunting in Sonora this past season were generally not good with overall rates at an estimated 30-35%.
The ongoing drought and an increase in the past few years in operators and hunters in our view were the primary reasons. The drought has had an adverse effect on natural and damed cow ponds forcing the deer to look elsewhere for water. The increase in hunting pressure has had the impact that it has everywhere it occurs. Ranches and outfitters with longer term managed leases with developed water fared much better.
If you are looking for a great mule deer and don't want to wait 10 or 20 years for a good tag in the States, Sonora is still the place to go. Do your research. Talk to the operators. Get references. Look for operations that feed year round to keep the free range deer on their ranches and have developed year round water sources. Experience with border crossings, permits, and paperwork is always important to ask about.
Agua Dulce Outfitters has been hunting trophy desert mule deer for nearly 20 years on their family ranch and other long term lease and ranch relationships We are booked for this coming season but we invite you to get on our waiting list or contact us for the 2026 season. Also, please visit our website www.aguadulceoutfitters.com for photos and additional information. Contact information is on the website.
Fred Trueblood
Santiago Gongora