By Brandon Butler | What is your favorite hunting trip of all time is a question I am often asked. While I can’t
say I have one favorite that stands out above all others, because so many have been
special for different reasons, my ocellated turkey hunting trip on the Yucatan Peninsula
of Mexico is certainly near the top. Especially considering the weather we are having in
the Midwest right now.
Bill Cooper is one of the most accomplished outdoor writers I know. A member of the
Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame and the recipient of countless other honors, Bill
has seen and done more in the outdoors than most could dream of accomplishing in
multiple lifetimes. So, when he invited me to join him on a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula
to chase ocellated turkeys, there was no hesitation in my enthusiastic acceptance.
The first stop on the multileg tour of the Yucatan was Mérida. We flew into Cancún late
in the afternoon and immediately hopped in a passenger van headed to the beautiful
colonial-looking city. From this point forward, my ignorance of Mexico rapidly
deteriorated.
Many Americans, myself formerly included, have established preconceived, negative
notions about Mexico based on media coverage that leads us to believe Mexico, outside
of the Las Vegas–style resort areas, is a very dangerous place. To the contrary, Mexico is
a wonderful, beautiful and diverse land. There are areas of dirt-poor poverty, and areas of
exquisite extravagance. As we traveled the Peninsula, passing through small villages and
walking city streets at night, I never once felt unsure of my safety.
Mérida is the largest city in the Yucatán Peninsula. It is the capital of the state of
Yucatán. We stayed in an old, elegant, colonial hotel with a beautiful open courtyard
from which you could stare at two towers of the Mérida Cathedral, which was built
entirely in the 16th century.
In Mérida, we met up with Maya Amazing Adventures. Rueben Encalada, their public
relations director, sure knows how to plan a trip to expose outdoor enthusiasts to the
natural and manmade treasures of the Yucatán. Our tour guides were Pancho, a recreation
and tourism instructor at a local college, and Lisa, an intern from Austria. Lisa was
promptly nicknamed “Lefty,” so our tour guides were Pancho and Lefty.
We spent the next two days touring Mayan archeological sites, swimming in cenotes,
exploring coastal wildlife refuges, eating incredible food and enjoying outstanding
company. Mayapan was my favorite site. It has over 4,000 structures around the Temple
of Kukulcan. Cenotes are water-filled sinkholes. You’re basically swimming in a cave
full of crystal-clear water. We took a boat from the fishing village of Dzilam de Bravo to
Parque Natural San Felipe. Pink flamingos were everywhere, providing incredible bird-
watching and photography opportunities. Fresh, line-caught fried grouper, fresh
vegetables and a chilled octopus cocktail served seaside was just one of the meals I’ll
never forget.
From Mérida, we traveled to Campeche where we spent time touring Fort San Miguel
and the local street markets. Roberto Sansores of Snook Inn Hunting and Fishing picked
us up for the hour-long ride to turkey camp. Roberto’s father, Jorge Sansores, who sadly
has passed away, was a legend of ocellated turkey hunting. He was outfitting on the
Yucatán Peninsula for over 50 years and prided himself on helping hunters achieve the
World Slam, which is accomplished by shooting all six subspecies of wild turkey in
North America.
Jorge’s camp was located in the small village of Carlos Cano Cruz. It’s about an hour
outside of Campeche. The accommodations were rough, but adequate for an authentic
Mexican hunting adventure. The food was the best I’ve ever experienced in a hunting or
fishing camp. One night, we had all the stone crab claws we could eat paired with fresh
grilled Spanish mackerel. For dessert, we enjoyed pineapple drizzled with honey and
rum.
The turkey hunting took place in agricultural fields surrounded by dense jungle. Jaguars
roam these fields. Ocellated turkeys often come through in flocks. The first morning five
gobblers came in front of me, and I ended my hunt before sunrise with a single shot. The
beauty of the ocellated turkey is in its colors. A shimmering aqua and bronze body is
highlighted by a tail fan with each feather hosting an eye of blue. I spent the second
morning behind the lens of my camera. Over 100 turkeys in a single flock flew down in
front of my blind. The next hour was mesmerizing.
Mexico was a land of mystery to me until I finally explored the Yucatan on this trip. I’ve
since been back to the country a few times and enjoy visiting the country more and more
each time. I found Mexico is not a scary place. Like anywhere, you could find trouble if
you went looking for it, but with some sense and good local guides, everything should be
fine. If you have dreamed of pursuing an ocellated turkey, I highly recommend you do.
See you down the trail…
Pic: Ocellated turkeys in the Yucatán Peninsula offer an exciting international hunt.
