OUR LEGACY
The story of Rancho El Rincón is one of restoration, stewardship, and purpose.
The vision of one man, carried forward by the next.
Rancho El Rincón is more than a hunting ranch. It is the result of decades of vision, stewardship, and an unwavering commitment to the land and the wildlife that call it home.
Set deep within the rugged Sierra del Burro region of northern Mexico, this 40,000-acre ranch exists in one of the most remote and biologically rich landscapes in North America. Here, desert meets mountain, creating a rare and diverse ecosystem capable of supporting truly wild populations of elk, whitetail, turkey, black bear, and more.
But it wasn’t always this way.
Long before Rancho El Rincón became what it is today, elk once roamed these mountains freely. Over time, through pressure and changing landscapes, they disappeared from the region entirely. For generations, the Sierra del Burro stood without elk; a landscape that had the habitat, the space, and the potential, but not the animals themselves.
It was this wild, untamed landscape that David Garza Laguera recognized as something more, not just a ranch, but an opportunity to restore what had once been lost.
In 1975, the ranch that would become Rancho El Rincón was purchased with a vision rooted in the land itself. Recognizing the untapped potential of the Sierra del Burro, the decision was made to do something few had ever attempted, to bring elk back to northern Mexico.
Working alongside wildlife experts from the United States, including professionals from New Mexico and Utah, the ranch became the foundation for a restoration effort that would take years of planning, persistence, and belief in what the land could become.
Elk Return to Mexico’s Sierra Madre
Led by David Garza Laguera, the effort to reintroduce elk into these mountains began with a simple but powerful belief, that this land could once again support a wild, thriving population.
The original herd was carefully sourced from established U.S. populations and transported across the border through a process that required navigating complex logistics, regulations, and countless challenges.
Once released, the real work began.
Protecting the animals, supporting the habitat, and allowing time for the herd to adapt required patience and long-term commitment. This was never about quick results, it was about doing it the right way.
A Landscape Reclaimed
Through David Garza Laguera’s leadership, Rancho El Rincón became part of a small group of private landowners who took on the responsibility of protecting and rebuilding wildlife populations in the region.
In a landscape where conservation often depends on those who live and work the land, the ranch focused on what mattered most — habitat improvement, water development, controlled hunting pressure, and long-term stewardship.
This is conservation in its purest form, not driven by recognition, but by results.
Today, elk roam the Sierra del Burro once again. Free-range herds move naturally across the landscape, bulls are able to reach maturity, and the population continues to grow, just as it was intended. What stands here today is the result of decades of patience, discipline, and a vision that refused to accept what the land had become.
What David Garza Laguera built at Rancho El Rincón was never meant to be short-term. It was built to last, to outlive one generation and be carried forward by the next. And today, that responsibility continues.
Like no elk country you’ve ever seen, this great mixing zone between the Chihuahan Desert and high Sierra Madre bears the kind of wild, rich diversity more readily associated with estuaries. Flaming oaks, maples and cherries swirl together with ponderosas, yuccas, agaves and ocotillos.
Today, Rancho El Rincón is led by Rodrigo Garza, a responsibility that carries deep meaning, not only because of what this ranch is, but because of who built it.
Rodrigo didn’t come into this ranch from the outside, he grew up in it. From an early age, he was immersed in the land, the wildlife, and the traditions that define Rancho El Rincón. He understands the rhythms of the mountains, the responsibility of managing wildlife, and the importance of protecting what has been built over decades.
As a hands-on owner and passionate hunter, Rodrigo is deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the ranch. He is committed to maintaining the quality of the experience, preserving the integrity of the land, and continuing the work that was started before him.
Family remains at the core of everything he does. Rancho El Rincón is not just a business, it is a legacy that he is proud to carry forward.
The foundation laid by David Garza Laguera remains at the core of everything Rancho El Rincón stands for today.
By limiting hunting pressure, maintaining habitat, and continuing to invest in the health of the ecosystem, the ranch is committed to ensuring that future generations will experience the same wild country that exists today.
What began as one man’s vision continues today, protected, respected, and carried forward for generations to come.
A Legacy Built to Last
