Rancho La Guarida, Mexico. Do B&C's "fair chase" principals have a price tag?

[alaska_bou]

Rancho La Guarida is a 20,000 acre ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico, that is surrounded by a high fence on three sides, with an inescapable canyon on the fourth side. At a sports show a few years ago, the owner, Jose, showed me photos of live rams that were available to hunt, and I noticed they had ear tags in the photos. This ranch advertises 100% opportunity, even for archery hunters, and "trophies are eligible for B&C entry." I read an email that circulated from B&C confirming sheep taken from this high-fenced ranch are in-fact eligible for book entry.

At the time, the owner was frustrated and vented to some extent with regard to "requirements" to get his sheep eligible for entry. To me, regardless of the details, this completely discredits B&C as an organization based on the principals of fair chase. Can someone enlighten me here? I reached back out to the owner, asking if the property is still surrounded by a high fence. He didn't reply.

 

[Mojave]

There are a lot of these places in Mexico for bighorns, and all over Europe for ibex, sheep and other species.

Cost typically separates the ranch hunts from the wild and free hunts.

 

[alaska_bou]

I realize that. I am asking why, on this ranch, B&C is allowing record book entries of desert sheep taken in a high fenced environment.

 

[Mojave]

I would add that I don't personally care how people choose to hunt. I have been a lifetime member of the Boone and Crocket Club for since 2003. I believe in fair chase, but I also think that there are times when someone's health situation prevents them from participating in a wild hunt.

 

[Mojave]

I realize that. I am asking why B&C is allowing the harvest of a desert sheep, taken in a high-fenced environment, into their record books.

The reservation hunts and hunts in Custer state park for bison are also high fence hunts. They allow those.

I have always felt like the Boone and Crocket was do as I say not as I do organization.

People trash talk the 3 different Safari Club organizations, at least they are honest about it.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Go next week to any States DBHS unit and see how wild sheep are…

Truth is for most part they aren’t. Reason it runs 100% pretty much in the states, They are similar to pronghorn, see pronghorn kill pronghorn, see ram kill ram

Mexico is better at disease, predator management, and putting sheep on the mountain, it’s all private they have most control .

States do the same release thing Mexico does, just not as effectively.

If you want the fairest of fair DBHS hunt find a state or Mexico ranch with large amounts of wilderness and very very little roads. Park and don’t come back to the truck until you kill out.

What I’m trying to say is go hunt, and dont over think it. You can die with memories or dreams

 

[MTGrizz]

Interesting question. I'd heard that La Guardia has a fence on just one side, to keep domestic sheep enclosed next door? Would love to know more about the area as it was on my radar as being preferable to completely isolated spots like Carmen or Tiburon. Nevertheless, the lines have certainly been blurred. I also think of places like Antelope Island Utah, which is pretty small & open for a free range hunt.