CIUDAD ACUÑA, Mexico -- Crippled by disturbing reports of drug violence in many parts of Mexico, the small border town of Ciudad Acuna is grateful, more than ever, for dove hunters that come back year after year from all over Texas.

“These people come in and spend a lot of money,” said Jorge Ramon, who organizes and hosts more than a dozen dove hunts a week this time of year.

Ramon, who also owns a restaurant in town, said his dove hunts are the only ones within a 20-minute drive of Acuna.

“Hunters love that little town,” he said. “When it comes to hunting, we are the best.”

Ramon offers hunters an all-inclusive package, hotel, meals, drinks, transportation, even the shotguns and ammunition, and the “bird boys” that retrieve the fallen prey. He even picks up hunters in Del Rio who drive in or arrive on three daily flights from Houston.

“All you need is your passport,” he said.

If they choose to bring their own shotguns, Ramon said he also takes care of the paperwork required by the Mexican government.

“I don’t know what it is. You got a lot more birds out here,” said Hugh Brightwell, who was among a group of dove hunters at Rancho La Paloma, a favorite field for its sunflowers and seeds that attract the birds.

“Get a weekend off, come down here and shoot birds and howl at the moon,” said hunter Jason Callaway.

Like the birds they target, hunters are sought out by businesses in Acuna, “to get them into their stores or restaurants or whatever,” said Ramon, in hopes they’ll also return with their families to visit and hunt for bargains instead of dove.

Ramon’s faithful clients also bring others eager to bag the tasty birds and to enjoy his long-standing hospitality.

“Well, we try. I love what I do,” he said.

“It is your home. That’s the first thing Jorge told me,” said Callaway. “It’s been a blast.”

Ramon can be reached by e-mailing jjramon [at] yahoo [dot] com.