This is an exciting time to go Carmen Mountain whitetail deer hunting: this subspecies has just recently been recognized as its own trophy species by Safari Club International. This makes it one of the best choices possible for a hunter hoping to earn his or her place in a record book and bag a beautiful trophy at the same time.
The Quarry
Carmen Mountain Whitetail deer hunting – SCI 136 (green score)
The Carmen Mountain deer were first found in the Sierra del Carmen Mountains, but they can also be found in western Texas. However, some of the biggest populations in Texas live in national parks that cannot be hunted. Mexico offers some of the best opportunities for hunting this subspecies.
These deer are similar to Coues deer in overall appearance, with white-rimmed black noses, brown summer coats, and gray winter coats. They also have the distinctive large, white-bottomed tail carried by all whitetails.
They are fairly small compared to most of their cousins, with the average buck standing just shy of three feet tall and weighing about 110 pounds. With their combination of dull coloration and small size, they blend in well with their surroundings and can quickly disappear if alarmed. Their ability to seemingly vanish into thin air has led some to call them the desert ghost.
The antlers usually have three or four points on each side, with a standard inside spread of about 10 inches. The best trophy bucks have spreads of more than 13 inches. Main beams are usually about a foot long, and tines are about four inches. Trophy recognition works as follows: a “good” buck scores at least 80 SCI or Boone and Crockett points; an “exceptional” one scores between 85 and 99; a “World Class” specimen is any that scores at least 100 points.
The Carmen whitetail deer hunting season in Mexico lasts from late November to late January, with the best hunting done between mid-December and early January. Our outfitters’ trips include five full days of hunting.
The Hunt
Carmen whitetail deer hunting makes for a moderately challenging hunt. Hunters will be traveling through canyons, and there may be a decent amount of hiking involved, so being in good shape is a plus. Most hunts are done via spot-and-stalk or tracking. Guides and hunters often use the many high vantage points available to their advantage in order to spot the deer.
Also, as mentioned above, these deer are skilled at slipping away quickly. You should have plenty of chances to take a shot, but the shots must often be done at long range—sometimes from as far as 300 yards—to avoid the risk of alerting the deer. Most shots will be possible at closer ranges of 100-200 yards, but it’s important to be capable of shooting accurately at long range. It’s recommended that you use a minimum of .270 caliber.
Call GlobalSporting Safaris today at 888-850-HUNT, Ext. 702 today or click one of the links and let us know what type of Carmen Mountain whitetail deer hunting experience you are looking for. We’ll send you information on opportunities that match your goals. Our experienced outfitters are second to none and we’re happy to share personal experiences with you.
