I haven't seen a posting about Desert Bighorn Sheep in Mexico in some time so I thought I'd share my recent experience (March 2025). First , I will tell you that I am absolutely new to the whole world of sheep hunting and this trip was my first and so far my only sheep hunt. I wanted a true, fair chase, free range, archery sheep hunt. So I talked with my friend Joe Thomas of "The American Archer" about his experience while we were at SCI in Nashville. He highly recommended Rancho La Guarida which is owned by Jose Vallina. I tell you this because Jose has won awards as a steward of the desert bighorn. He is solely responsible for the re-establishment of bighorn in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. He and his wife, Esperanza, are amazing people who have done amazing things for Mexico and for hunters. If you go to their website laguaridaranch.com you can read about their incredible journey. So, I contacted Jose and planned my hunt 2-3 years in advance. I asked for references, I did my background checks, and I verified everything. By the time the hunt finally arrived I was confident and comfortable going to Mexico with a rifle and a bow. (I carried my rifle just as a backup, but never unpacked it.) Here's the really great thing, Jose himself met me at the airport. He had all the paperwork, permits, and security issues organized and handled. When carrying a gun into Mexico there several steps that involve, airport security, local police, and the Federales. So, I was relieved that he had taken care of everything. The drive from the airport with Jose and Esperanza was smooth and comfortable. When we arrived at the ranch, I was surprised to find out that I was the only hunter and the whole place was for me. The ranch house was amazing, comfortable, spotless, and had spectacular views in all directions. The food was incredible. Authentic Mexican cuisine prepared by Esperanza! We met up with the guides after dinner and made a plan for the next day. The morning started with a breakfast fit for a king, and equipment checks. Then the cowboys brought over the horses. My experience with horses has always been a little uneasy just because of my limited experience. But these horses were amazing, gentle, surefooted, and stout. Now, I strapped my bow onto the backpack and hopped up in the saddle. The first day we rode, and glassed until around 1:00. Being the first week in March it got a little warm for the horses and the wind picked up. We headed back to the ranch house for lunch and refreshments. During this first day we saw roughly 20 bighorn ewes and their offspring. We saw 3 absolute shooter rams at a distance and a location making it impossible for a bow stalk. Obviously, at this point I am fired up. So for the next 3 days we repeated morning and evening hunts on horseback or by truck one afternoon just as a scouting drive. On 3 different occasions I saw and videoed one specific ram that I decided to go after. He was mature, heavy, full curl to the eyes, and had some flare. I tried 3 stalks on him and got busted each time by the swirling wind. But, I knew he was the one I was after. On the fifth day, we decided to walk into the area where we'd seen "my" ram two days earlier. We crept around a small hill, and spotted a group of 4 nice rams about 400 yards away. That's when I thought I saw the one I was hunting. The guide, Juan, snapped a picture through his spotting scope and we both confirmed it was the one we were after. Juan asked me if I wanted to make a stalk or back out and keep looking. We literally, over the past 4 days had taken multiple pictures from multiple angles of close to 20 rams that would be considered shooters. We sat down in the desert and went through all the pictures randomly and every time this one ram came up from all different angles, I said, "yes." Juan smiled and said, "He's the one I would choose as well." The point here is that this place has many types, shapes, ages, even horn color that you can choose from. It's amazing. I passed on older rams, heavier rams, and bigger body rams. There was something about this one that I liked. So we checked the wind, the terrain, and the sun. Juan and I laid out our path. It couldn't have been more perfect. As we approached, the wind was in our face, the sun was right behind me, and the ram was lying down about 30 yards from where I wanted to shoot. We stalked to 30 yards! I couldn't believe it, 30 yards. I went through my pre-shot routine and Juan used his phone to video the shot. The wind was howling now from my left to right. Juan gave me the green light. I let the arrow fly. The wind pushed the arrow slightly forward but it as a lethal shot with an instant spray of blood. He ran about 80 yards away, stopped, and staggered but remained on his feet. I quickly moved
to 60 yards away and although I was confident in the first shot, I nocked another arrow and put into his lungs. (I don't like to track wounded animals nor do I want to watch them suffer.) The cowboys were there in minutes. We took a ton of pictures and gave a bunch of fist bumps, hugs, and high fives.
I rarely read comments about after the harvest. But this also impressed me. I grew up in Tennessee hunting and trapping. I know how to properly skin an animal and how important it is to be meticulous around the mouth, the eyes, and the ears. Juan and the cowboy did the best skinning job that I have ever seen. They also deboned, quartered, and processed the sheep in record time. Nothing wasted.
So in closing, this was a hunt of a lifetime. If you are looking for desert bighorn Jose Vallina is the man to call.
