HOT Barreled Border Dove Hunt!
By Skip Valentine

Just imagine yourself, sitting in an oversized Director’s Chair, Bird Boy, and Ice Chest just behind your chair, Benelli in hand, Doves whizzing overhead, Mexico’s Liberal Limits and the USA bridge only a few miles away!

This is as close as you will ever find "Dove Hunting Heaven" minutes from the USA bridge. Well, it all started when I called The Laredo Hunt Club (713) 654-0047 and talked to Andrea, an Official with The Laredo Hunt Club. Andrea was nice and helpful for me to discuss the dates that I could enjoy their unique situation.

The Laredo Hunt Club caters to corporation USA, groups of up to 24, but will find room for groups of 2 to 6 as well. Andrea’s friendly Texas Drawl made me feel warm and cheerful that I had called. I booked the session just prior to Labor day last year.

The Early sessions August and September have more Whitewing Doves and Mourning Doves than October sessions. The Laredo Hunt Club has Rio Grande bottom Land, from right on the river to 10 miles deep, just adjacent to the USA’s most unused bridge at the little town of Colombia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The Land is choice and best because the migrating doves moving south from the USA hit those fields, lakes and brush first and many times prior to USA dove seasons and are mighty hungry. Those river bottomlands also have resident dove flocks, which got bigger each year!

The Laredo Hunt Club offers Two Sessions weekly, Friday to Sunday and Sunday to Tuesday with Four Sessions of Hot Barreled Shooting. An extra day of shooting is possible for additional fees. Andrea confirmed my group of fours request and faxed us confirmation that same day. My blood was starting to boil with heated anticipation of dove after dove flying overhead every two minutes or so. Easy shots, tough shots, I broke out in goose bumps just thinking about it. We choose the Sunday to Tuesday hunt as it has usually less hunters!

To me, Old Mexico is much safer now with less hassles in getting our licenses, for if you elect to use the Club’s automatic Benelli shotguns, you can obtain your hunting license and permits by fax, just fax your name and address, date of birth, and day time phone number, as Andrea of Laredo Hunt Club does the rest.
The Laredo Hunt Club likes to get your license and permits 30 to 60 days prior to your arrival, but permits have been obtained in less than 24 hours in some cases. The Mexican Cattlemen’s Association- "A.N.G.A.D.I." handles all the licenses and permits for the Club in a fast and magnificent manner. One fax back to Andrea at club headquarters and we are "Good to Go!"

As the end of August and September becomes closer, my temperature is rising – I am counting the days now just like a 3 years old boy prior to Christmas. Finally, the Sunday is my day to depart has arrived. I have an early morning flight, my bags are packed, Hot weather gear, short pants, light shirts, shell bag, shooting vest, all came, of course, socks, sun tan cream, swim suit, walking boots, (Not much walking as the bird boy does all the fetching). Now I am on my way to the Raleigh Airport 7:30 a.m. departure, all my buddies are meeting there. And I have one ice chest to bring our frozen birds back home. I will be shooting this afternoon. And I can’t wait!!!

I choose to fly Continental as both Continental and American fly into Laredo, Texas. Another group is flying in from Michigan and another has flown in on Saturday to overnight in one of the beautiful hotels available - all arranged through the club. This group wanted to go to Old Mexico, buy some souvenirs and check out the Night Life.

My airplane arrives at 1:30 p.m. in Laredo, after only one stop in Houston. My banker was impressed, the round trip booked 30 days in advance was less than $300 US. The Crew from The Laredo Hunt Club is waiting at the curb by the baggage delivery in three clean, air conditioned, Suburbans. I need to use the bathroom twice before we depart, I cannot remember when I was this excited! Will I get 100 shots today, or will it be 200? Most hunters get 100 to 300 shots per session! I can’t wait! The convoy makes one last stop to pick up beer in the USA as The Club cannot furnish beer for liability reasons. The Beer Barons buy their fill and load up the Suburbans.

One Final Check – Adriane Garcia, the leader asks – Please if anyone has shotgun shells or any weapon such as pistols, knives with blades over 6 inches long, please leave them in the USA. Please, Mexico does not allow you to buy shells unless you get a Mexican Federal Gun Permit about $300, and some red tape and usually a 2 to 4 hour border wait until all is checked. Why would anyone want to bring their own shotgun when the Club has registered Auto Benellies, several over and under and Remington 870’s pumps. The Autos and Doubles are rented for $50 for a 4 session hunt! The 870’s are free for your use.

The Mexican border crossing at the Colombia Bridge (20 miles NW of Laredo, TX) was a piece of cake, as we didn’t even get out of the Suburban or speak to any customs (US or Mexican). Just off the bridge property and on the Ranch property within 5 minutes, No long drives or other border checks! Within a few moments, the doves, quail, and even Javillinas, and wild desert pigs were seen in abundance. My heart raced, I knew I was in the right place! In almost no time, we were at the Great Rock Mexican Hacienda – I felt like "Alice in Wonderland," my spirits raced!

The Old two story Hacienda all built by hand hewed rock and 8 flags waiving proudly above with the Mexican flag of red, white, and green and golden eagle waived highest and proudest. This very land had witnessed the lives of Spanish Conquistadors, Apache Indian Attacks, and even Pancho Villa, all had made their presence known here. The fabled Camino Real – The Money or Gold Road had passed nearby centuries before.

My room was nice, quaint and rustic with all tiled bath and the air conditioner was working very well. The rest of the Ranch boasted a nice swimming pool and an Old Rock Corral where Fighting Bulls were once trained. The room was clean and fresh. We quickly changed into hunting clothes and gathered for a meeting in the large dining room. A Giant Whitetail buck hung proudly in the wall-surely he is Record book quantity. There is a Long Bar where the shotguns would be passed out. Each group drew numbers for 1st choice on shotguns and shooting stations. The larger groups had preference.

Each hunter got a bird boy, mine was named Rubin, we each got a case of shotgun shells. One member of the Michigan chose to shoot a 206A Benelli Auto, the rest chose Benelli 126A. They had a left handed Benelli for a left handed Nimrod. Each hunter had a number which corresponded to the station he would shoot, and you may shoot by yourself or sit with a buddy and shoot, as each hunter has his own personal bird boy who collects fallow birds, brings cold drinks soda pop or water, as each 2 hunters have their own ice chest. Each major group have their own hunting vehicle to take them to their station. Ours was an old Suburban. The Michigan group which all stayed together in one double bedroom unit got a converted van without top to tour out to the shooting stations.

The doves, both Whitewings and mourning doves were everywhere. The noise they made flying out of the bushes was great- my senses were keen, my blood boiled. The hunting stations are spread out each 100+ yards or more. Each has been scouted for good dove numbers. Finally our group (Raleigh) were at our stations, we chose to sit together 2 per station. Each hunter got an oversized directors chair to sit in.

The birds were buzzing over our heads like "Killer Bees on the Attack." It was so exciting, I couldn’t stand it. I had to sit down, get my breath and composure. It sounded like a war – boom, boom, boom – birds were falling so fast the bird boys couldn’t keep up. I dropped my second box of shells because I was so nervous. My gun barrel was almost red hot- too hot to touch. The shooting went on continuously until almost dark; I was into my 10th box of shells, I had over 100 doves. I was excited, exhausted, thrilled, and pleased all in one great emotion. My adrenaline had ravaged by body – as the shots quelled I felt as if you could put me through a roller towel dryer and I would not have felt a thing. I was saved by the supply truck who came around to check that our guns functioned well. We had plenty of shells, drinks; they even brought a super cold washcloth for my face and neck.

The ride back to the Hacienda was short only 15 minutes; it felt like our team had just won the Super Bowl, World Series, Masters, and Wilmington. As soon as we arrived at the Hacienda, hors d’oeuvre of hot nachos, Swedish meatballs and the best fresh Margaritas I have ever tasted were served. Being hot and tired, I jumped in the pool with all my clothes on, one of the Club’s retrieving dogs, "Chavez" wanted to jump in too as he had retrieved over 100 doves that afternoon, but he was strictly not allowed.

There was smoke flame, a big mesquite campfire with beautiful Mexican music, filling the air with great sounds and smells. Thick choice rib eye steaks were sizzling on the B-B-Q pit, the red coals gleamed into the summer night. There was great joy in the atmosphere. More nachos and margaritas were offered on a big platter. I was not sure if I could survive another day and a half of the most exciting bird shoot on the border.

After devouring one of the greatest mesquite grilled rib eye steaks, baked potato, salad and desert I had ever tasted, I slid into one of the special Mexican Rebar Rockers. The most efficient Rocker on the planet rocked and – watched the campfire glow and listened to the old harmonica moan "Here oh the Range," "Shewadoa," and "The Streets of Laredo," from Laredo Hunt Clubs, consultant Dr. G.W. Vogt

My bed in that cold A/C room felt like heaven! The next day, the hunt was the same – Early morning departure – a new and different shooting line with stations. The birds were the same – diving and darting – my shoulder was sore, my cheek was swollen, my heart danced with adrenaline on each shot. The Saturday PM hunt was to be our best! How could it get any better? There was to be a vote to either hunt The Rio Grande River banks, or some beautiful private lakes.

During the morning break between the AM hunt and the PM hunt – The Michigan group went to town – Nuevo Laredo to buy gifts of Jewelry, Zarapes, Rum, Tequila, Carvings, etc. it was rumored they would return to town to check out the Night Life that Saturday Night. The Saturday PM hunt was spectacular, we chose the Rio Grande River banks, what a hunt - What an experience! – What an experience! I admit I only shot the Friday PM shoot, as I wanted to get my motion picture camera out to document the shoot to share with the rest of the Hunting World.

Mexico has limits in which in Year 2000 was 240 birds, but the year 2001, limits were 360 if you purchased all the licenses and permits. The Saturday Night wild game feast was spectacular. Doves cooked three ways: shish-ka-bob, on the mesquite B-B-Q were best for me, but the chicken fried doves were a second and the dove gumbo came in third.

The Saturday Night feast was fabulous, the margaritas, and wild doves were the best I had tasted. The rumor was right, Michigan went to town to see the Night Life. The campfire and music was great. I fell into bed like a zombie.

The Sunday morning hunt only fielded half of the hunters, once stated "I have had enough," my body will not let me hunt anymore. The hunt was over at 10AM because many had to be at the airport for the 1:30 PM flight. The Club tries to hunt one line only once weekly and picks up all birds and spent shells. Each hunter is allowed to take home 40 cleaned and frozen doves. Also, available to hunt are desert javillinas, wild boar, and possibly varmints, these services are additional fees. We all settled our bills, some shot $100 to $200 in shells. The cost of the hunt was $1,200 which included your licenses and permits. The only additional fees were shells $12.00/box, tips usually $100, gun rentals if you used Autos or Doubles $50 and the alcohol that you bought and brought. Extra trips to town are $100 per vehicle. It was a great experience that I and my buddies will never forget. The best "Pop" for your Buck next to the USA.