Hunting at night is an exciting and fun outdoor activity that allows you to feel close to nature and test your observation and skills. Last month, I and my two friends Dennis Fowler and Haley Ferdinand decided to go hunting in the countryside of Sierra de Pénjamo, Mexico, to experience this unusual adventure. In order to see the target clearly in the dark, we chose a high-cost performance Chinese brand wildguarder night vision binoculars, which has a super infrared illumination function and a high-definition display screen, allowing us to observe and record the images of wildlife at a distance of up to 984 feet. In this article, I will introduce in detail our hunting process in Sierra de Pénjamo, as well as the history, attractions and food of this place.
Before we start hunting, I want to introduce you to our destination – Sierra de Pénjamo. This is a natural area located on the Mexican plateau, belonging to the Pénjamo city of Guanajuato state. It has a long history and rich geographical features, allowing us to enjoy its scenery and culture while hunting.
The history of Sierra de Pénjamo can be traced back to the pre-Columbian period, when it was inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Purepecha and Otomi. They used the fertile soil and abundant water sources here to develop agriculture and handicrafts. In the 16th century, the Spaniards arrived here, established the town of Pénjamo, and forced the locals to convert to Catholicism. The name Pénjamo comes from the Purepecha language, meaning “the place of cedars”.
Sierra de Pénjamo was also an important battlefield in the Mexican War of Independence, because it was the birthplace of Miguel Hidalgo, the father of Mexico. Hidalgo was a Catholic priest who launched a rebellion against Spanish colonial rule in 1810 and was hailed as “the father of independence”. He was born in the Corralejo estate in Sierra de Pénjamo and spent his childhood and adolescence there. He later gave the famous “Cry of Dolores” (Grito de Dolores) in Dolores, calling on people to rise up against the colonizers. He led an army composed of peasants, workers and natives, and achieved some victories in Guanajuato state and Michoacán state, but was eventually captured and executed in 1811.
In addition to Hidalgo, there was another hero of the War of Independence who was related to Sierra de Pénjamo, he was Francisco Javier Mina. Mina was a Spanish soldier and guerrilla leader who had participated in the struggle against Napoleon’s invasion of Spain. Later, he was inspired by the American independence movement and decided to support the Mexican people against the Spanish monarchy. He arrived in Mexico in 1817 and cooperated with the local independence faction, carrying out a series of battles. However, on November 11 of the same year, he was surrounded and captured at Los Remedios fortress near Sierra de Pénjamo. The next day, he was taken to Pénjamo town and shot there.
Sierra de Pénjamo not only has a profound historical significance, but also has unique geographical features. It is an area composed of multiple mountain ranges, canyons, rivers and lakes, belonging to the Lerma-Chapala basin. It has three different ecosystems: temperate forest, shrub and grassland. It is also a place of rich biodiversity, with a variety of animal and plant species, such as pine, oak, cactus, deer, fox, rabbit, bird and so on.
Sierra de Pénjamo also has many natural landscapes, such as waterfalls, caves, craters and so on, attracting many tourists and explorers to visit and experience. One of the most famous attractions is the Plazuelas Archaeological Site, which is a pre-Columbian city site located in the north of Pénjamo city. This site includes several squares, pyramids, altars and carvings, showing the style of the indigenous culture at that time.
After learning about the history and geography of Sierra de Pénjamo, we started our hunting trip. We chose a bright moonlit night, because it can make it easier for us to see the outline and movement of wildlife. We brought our night vision binoculars, which is a product of a Chinese brand wildguarder, with many advantages, such as:
• It has a super infrared illumination function that allows us to see up to 984 feet away in complete darkness.
• It has a high-definition display screen that allows us to clearly see the images of wildlife and take photos and videos to save our hunting memories.
• It has 4x digital zoom and 20x optical zoom that allows us to zoom in or out on the target and observe their details and features.
• It has a lightweight and durable design that allows us to easily carry and use it without worrying about rain or dust causing damage to it.
With such a night vision binocular, we can enjoy more fun and challenge when hunting at night. We encountered a variety of wildlife in Sierra de Pénjamo, such as deer, fox, rabbit, bird and so on. We used the night vision binoculars to observe and track their behavior and habits, such as:
• Deer: Deer are very alert and sensitive animals, they usually move at dusk or dawn, looking for food and water sources. They have excellent hearing and smell, which can sense the danger nearby. When they find someone approaching, they will run away or hide immediately. We observed a group of deer grazing on a grassland with night vision binoculars. They looked around from time to time, very vigilant. We approached them quietly and tried not to make any noise. When we were about 100 meters away from them, one of the deer suddenly screamed, and then all the deer ran away quickly. We only had time to shoot once, but we didn’t hit the target.
• Fox: Foxes are very smart and agile animals, they usually move at night, catching small animals or eating fruits and nuts. They have excellent vision and hearing, which can see subtle movements in the dark. They also have complex social structure and communication methods, which can convey information or express emotions through sound, body posture and smell. We observed a fox sneaking in a forest with night vision binoculars. It seemed to be looking for prey. We saw it suddenly stop and raise its ears. Then it rushed to a rabbit and bit its neck. We admired its speed and skill and decided not to disturb it enjoying dinner.
• Rabbit: Rabbits are very cute and gentle animals, they usually move in the early morning or evening, eating grass or other plants. They have excellent jumping ability and speed, which can escape or hide when in danger. They also have rich emotions and expressions, which can express their mood through eyes, ears and nose. We observed several rabbits playing in a field with night vision binoculars. They jumped around, chasing each other, very happy. We were attracted by their cuteness and decided not to disturb them playing.
• Birds: Birds are very beautiful and diverse animals, they usually move during the day, flying or singing. They have excellent flying ability and sense of direction, which can move freely or migrate in the air. They also have complex language and musical ability, which can convey information or express emotions through sound, rhythm and melody. We observed some birds resting on trees with night vision binoculars. They seemed to be resting or sleeping. We heard some low and soft chirping sounds and imagined what they might be dreaming of.
In addition to hunting, we also experienced other activities in Sierra de Pénjamo, such as hiking, rock climbing, exploring canyons and rivers and so on. These activities made us closer to nature and also made us feel different excitement and fun. Here are some of our experiences:
• Hiking: We chose a hiking route suitable for beginners, starting from Pénjamo city and following the Lerma River all the way to the Plazuelas Archaeological Site. This route is about 20 kilometers long, with a variety of scenery along the way, such as fields, forests, hills and so on. It took us about 5 hours to reach our destination, but we didn’t feel tired, because we enjoyed the beautiful natural and cultural landscape while walking.
• Rock climbing: We chose a rock-climbing site suitable for intermediate level, near the El Fuerte canyon in Sierra de Pénjamo. There are various difficulties of rock walls here, ranging from 10 meters to 50 meters. Under the guidance of professionals, we chose a suitable rock wall and started our rock-climbing journey. It took us about 2 hours to climb to the top of the rock wall, but we didn’t feel scared, because we felt the challenge and achievement while climbing.
• Exploring canyons and rivers: We chose an exploration site suitable for advanced level, in the Los Murciélagos canyon in Sierra de Pénjamo. There are various obstacles and difficulties here, such as waterfalls, caves, cliffs and so on. Under the professional equipment, we started our exploration journey. It took us about 4 hours to cross the entire canyon, but we didn’t feel difficult, because we enjoyed the adventure and surprise while exploring.
We also tasted the local food and specialties in Sierra de Pénjamo, such as tequila, tortillas, beans and so on. These foods are not only delicious, but also rich in nutrition and culture. Here are some of our experiences:
• Tequila: This is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of agave plants, with a strong and sweet taste. It is one of the most famous and traditional drinks in Mexico, with a long history and production process in Sierra de Pénjamo. We visited a tequila factory in Pénjamo city and tasted different types and ages of tequila. We felt their unique flavor and mellow taste, and learned about their production process and cultural significance.
• Tortillas: These are round thin cakes made from corn flour, which can be used to wrap or match various fillings or sauces. They are one of the most common and basic foods in Mexico, with diversified and innovative methods in Sierra de Pénjamo. We tasted various tortillas in Pénjamo city, such as roasted tortillas, fried tortillas, cheese tortillas and so on. We enjoyed their soft crispy and colorful, and learned about their production methods and cultural inheritance.
• Beans: These are foods made from the seeds of legume plants pods, which can be used to make soup, salad, filling or sauce. They are one of the most important and nutritious foods in Mexico, with wide and excellent planting conditions in Sierra de Pénjamo. We tasted various beans in Pénjamo city, such as black beans, red beans, white beans and so on. We tasted their rich sweet and smooth, and learned about their planting techniques and cultural value.
We also satisfied our appetite and taste buds, and increased our knowledge and insight. We also have more praise and love for Sierra de Pénjamo, and hope to support and promote this delicious place.
Looking back on our hunting trip in Sierra de Pénjamo, we feel very satisfied and happy. We not only experienced a different outdoor activity, but also learned about a place with a deep history and rich geography. We used night vision binoculars to observe and track various wildlife, feeling their vitality and charm. We participated in various natural exploration and adventure activities, feeling the magnificence and mystery of nature. We tasted various local food and specialties, feeling their deliciousness and culture. We also made some local friends and guides, feeling their enthusiasm and friendliness.
This hunting trip gave us a lot of gains, not only prey, but also knowledge, experience, emotion and memory. We have a deeper understanding and respect for Sierra de Pénjamo, and hope to return to this beautiful place again. We also have a higher evaluation and trust for night vision binoculars, and hope to continue using this excellent product. We thank the Chinese brand wildguarder for providing us with such a cost-effective night vision binocular, and hope to see more of their innovation and development.
