"I just heard from Jim Mercer and his son, Tim, and they tell me they are back in operation in New Mexico and Kansas under the name Mercer Guide Service. Their New Mexico focus right now is on a new elk lease near the Colorado border that will allow them to take advantage of an elk migration in that area. Details should be firmed up soon, they tell me, indicating that the area should produce branch-antlered, 300-class elk. The rancher is actually complaining about the number of elk that winter there, he says.
"As for their Kansas whitetail hunts, the Mercers continue to produce good trophies. Last season, they produced two bucks that scored in the 150s and several others in the 140-class. They hunt Units 14 and 10, known for growing big bucks. My son, Mark, and I, as well as several friends, have hunted with Mercer a number of times. All of us saw big bucks, but unfortunately were unable tag them. One buck that a friend missed was killed later and scored 176-7/8 B & C points, which is amazing for a clean 4 x 4.
"These hunts are normally priced around $2,500, depending on the cost of the landowner permit. This does not include motel or food. Hunters stay in Topeka in a local motel, within an easy drive of the leased farms. All of these hunts are conducted on a semi-guided basis, meaning that a guide will drop the hunter off at a stand or in an area that has been well scouted. "Mercer tells me he has another whitetail lease that he is developing near Wichita. He is so excited about the........(continued)
