Duck, Dove, Pigeon, Perdiz, Montaraz, Giant Quail
River Plate Outfitters offers the only 6-day hunt in Argentina where hunters can successfully shoot high volume Duck, Dove & decoying Pigeon as well as common & Montaraz (giant) Perdiz behind pointing dogs. Hunters hunt high volume ducks out of our Estancia La Escondida in the pothole country of Buenos Aires Province about 3 hours west of Buenos Aires and the upland birds out of Estancia Los Pampas located about 3 hours west. This is truly the finest mixed bag hunt for all of Argentina’s sportiest game birds. Both Estancias offer 7 bedrooms and 6 baths
The Shooting
This one of a kind mixed bag hunt allows shooters to experience the only true 6 feather hunt in Argentina with 6 full days of shooting. Hunters will spend 2 mornings and 2 afternoons of high volume duck shooting from blinds in the very prolific pot hole area of Buenos Aires Province west of Buenos Aires. Then shooters travel about 2 ½ hrs west and spend 3 full days of shooting a combination of high volume dove, decoying pigeon or common perdiz in the mornings and Montaraz or dove in the afternoons.
High Volume Duck Shooting
Western Buenos Aries Province is littered with shallow pot holes and small lakes in the heart of the province’s grain and grazing fields and is home to tens of thousands of wintering migratory ducks. The species represented include 6 or 7 species of teal, Rose Billed Pochard, Brown Pintails, South American Widgeon and several species of tree ducks among others. Hunting is conducted from blinds over decoys in different areas each day. Baiting is allowed in Argentina and our guides feed over 70 shooting areas daily. It is not unusual to shoot 4 – 5 boxes of shells in a 2 – 3 hour half day hunt.
High Volume Dove Shooting
The thousands of acres of cultivated grain fields in eastern Los Pampas Province is home to literally millions of doves, numbers that rival the numbers in the Cordoba region of central Argentina, but unlike doves in the Cordoba region, the dove in Los Pampas Province receive very little hunting pressure. Thus, the drive from the Estancia to the hunting areas are under a half an hour. The dove fly basically non-stop all day long in cultivated grain fields or on the flyways between the fields and their roosts. It is not unusual to shoot 20 – 40 boxes of shot shells in a half day hunt. Dove and pigeons are considered agricultural pests as the tens of thousands feeding in the fields cause huge crop losses and thus the more you shoot the happier the farmers are.
Decoying Pigeon
Los Pampas is home to huge populations of both picazuro & spot-winged pigeons and offers some the best high volume pigeon shooting in all of South America. Hunting is conducted from blinds on fence rows and flyways and produces some exciting shooting for these strong, erratic flying birds. Rotary decoy spreads much like the types used in Spain are used very effectively. Shooters can normally expect to shoot 8 boxes of shells or better in a mornings hunt as the birds will arrive in both large flocks and with 2 - birds in a group.
Perdiz
Common Perdiz (Spotted Timinue) are hunted behind well trained pointing dogs in grass land pastures. The birds hold much like our Bob White Quail, but are usually flushed as singles not in covies. Common Perdiz are strong fliers and offer exciting shooting. Montaraz (Forest Timinue) is a larger species of Perdiz about the size of Ruffed Grouse and inhabits the same type of brushy habitat. Much like a Grouse, Montaraz seem to be able to put a tree between themselves and the hunters after taking off offering exciting and challenging snap shooting. Depending on the amount of rainfall experienced in a given year, there might also be an opportunity to experience a driven hunt for what are called Giant Quail, (Elegant Crested Tinamou) - a real treat! These birds are about the size of hen pheasant and are found in what looks like desert scrub brush offering quick challenging shooting.
Accommodations
For nearly 100 years Estancia La Escondida was the center of a Polo and horse breeding farm and is steeped in history & old world elegance in the center of some of Argentina’s best duck hunting. Estancia Los Pampas, formally a big game estancia, is located in the best mixed upland bird hunting in Argentina. Both estancias have 7 bedrooms and 6 baths, offering either double or single occupancy rooms. The estancias each have an on-site chef offering continental quinine and wild game meals, complete with the famous wines Argentina is known for.
Non Wing Shooting Activities
Estancia Los Pampas is in some of the best big game hunting regions in Argentina for driven Red Stag and Wild Boar. You can add a day to your wing shooting trip or substitute a day in your hunt for a driven hunt for Red Stag and/or Wild Boar. Inquire before your trip for pricing and scheduling of a driven hunt. Photographic opportunities are available in conjunction with your 6 feather shoot at either Estancia.
The Trip
Day 1 Upon arrival at the Buenos Aires airport the first morning of your trip, you will be met by an English speaking member of our staff and transferred by aircraft to Estancia La Escondido. You will get settled in, have lunch and hunt ducks in the afternoon, returning to the estancia for cocktails and dinner.
Day 2 You will enjoy a morning and afternoon duck hunt usually within a 45 min drive from the estancia. Between hunts you will return to the estancia for lunch and a siesta. After the evening hunt you will return to the estancia for cocktails and dinner.
Day 3 You will rise early for a morning duck hunt, returning to the estancia for lunch and a siesta. Early in the afternoon you will depart Estancia La Escondida for an hour drive to your field for an afternoon of high volume dove hunting. After your dove hunting you will be transported about an hour to Estancia Los Pampas for cocktails, dinner and the night.
Day 4 & 5 You will hunt dove, perdiz or pigeon each morning and afternoon returning to the estancia each day in between hunts for lunch. In the evenings guests will return to the estancia for cocktails, dinner and the night.
Day 6 You will enjoy a mornings high volume dove hunt, returning to the estancia for lunch and then in the early afternoon be transferred to the Buenos Aires airport for your evening flight back home.
Trip Price $4,885.00/person
Trip Price Includes:
· 2 full days of Duck hunting and 3 full days of Dove hunting.
· Ground and commercial air transportation within Argentina.
· All meals in hunting areas including liquor, wine and beer.
· Double occupancy rooms.
· Hunting license/permits in Argentina.
· Daily laundry & maid service.
· Guides and dogs
· Double Occupancy blinds for Pigeon & Duck (Single occupancy blinds $125.00/half day extra.)
Not Included in the trip price:
· If you wish to add or substitute a daily dove shoot for any other species, there is an additional $180.00/half day.
· Air charter flight (instead of normal scheduled commercial flight) from Santa Rosa to Buenos Aires at the end of the trip.
· Gun Permits and entry into Argentina (Approx. $110.00/gun)
· Shot Shells ($14.00/box for 20 & 12 ga,)
· Gun Rental ($60.00/day/gun)
· Gratuities (Suggested $80.00/day total for guide and staff)
· Phone calls and items of a personal nature
· Transportation costs between Buenos Aires and Estancias for clients leaving or arriving outside the normal trip schedule
Additional Day: If clients wish to stay an additional day, rates are (providing space is available):
· La Escondido Duck Shoot in the morning and afternoon $1,180.00/day
· Los Pampas High volume Doves AM & other species PM $595.00/day
High volume Dove AM & PM $400.00/day
