WinMag: <P>Yup. It's that bad. After more than twenty years hunting the Mexicali Valley, my group is also passing on the licenses this year. Here's the rundown I got:<BR>The regular licenses were actually cheaper this year, ranging from $440 for the basic duckordove to $600 for the full thing. At the last minute, however, they decided that each license was going to have a quota of birds, after which you'd need to buy a voucher for more birds.<P>What I originally heard was that the $440 for the basic dove was good for 30 days or 75 birds, whichever came first. Where we hunt doves, 75 birds means opening morning!! After that, it would cost you $66 for another $75 birds.<P>In the old days, we'd risk it and rely on a $50 bill to get us out of trouble with the fedreales. In case you hadn't noticed, that kind of tactic doesn't fly anymore in Baja. Ain't worth the risk.<P>What this means is that I'll spend $440 and probably at least another $132 or even $198 per weekend just for dove shooting, at almost a buck a bird. Throw in shotshells, gas, accomodations, etc., and it just ain't worth it.<P>Hope this ain't the end of Mexico! I don't know if I can get used to ten-bird limits and two-week seasons at my age.<P>Jimbo


The Only Time Gin Is Bad Is When You Have A 44 In Hand.