A tough bull with a bad temper and a big cat. A beautiful black antelope with spiral horns, a native of India. A local bird that reverses gender roles, with the male building the nest and hatching eggs. Bright colored exotic ducks. In the shadow of the Andes, on the wide-open Pampas, in the wild Patagonia or along its mighty rivers, hunting in Argentina is much more than unlimited dove and the red stag. This post gives you a brief overview of what, where, and when you can hunt in Argentina.
Hunting grounds of Argentina
Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world by land area, stretching for 2,360 miles (3,800 km) from the Tierra del Fuego near the Antarctic to the subtropics near the northern border with Bolivia. Its landscape is dominated by the Pampas, a vast grassland that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes. Part of the Pampas have been turned into flourishing agricultural lands, while others remain in their grassland glory, and serve as pastures for free-ranging cattle – and habitat for big and small game.
Another important landmark is the Andes, a mighty mountain range that marks Argentina’s border with Chile. In the north, the foothills of the Andes are covered with lush subtropical forests, while the more to the south, the lower, but also the wilder and more desolate the mountains become. The northern part of the country is known as Patagonia, and is a comparatively wild and untouched by civilization area. If you’re looking for a big-game wilderness adventure, seek your outfitter in Patagonia.
Mighty rivers flow from the Andes into the Atlantic through Argentina, two of them – Paraná and Uruguay – building valleys with flourishing agricultural lands that provide food to diverse species that can also find cover in riverbeds, woods, and orchids. Further on to the north, there is the Chaco region, with hot and semi-arid plains covered with forests, shrublands, and savannas, and in the north-west you find subtropical climate with lush forests in the mountains.
Game bird hunting in Argentina
Wingshooting is what attracts most hunters to Argentina, and for a good reason: the numbers of birds in the country must be seen to be believed. Along with the world-famous pigeon and dove shooting, the country also offers upland bird hunting and outstanding opportunities for waterfowl hunting.
Waterfowl hunting
If you’re anything like a duck hunter, you should definitely consider adding a day or two of duck shooting to your Argentinean adventure. Just look at the photos of exciting and exotic local species, such as the whistling duck, white-cheeked pintail, rosy-billed pochard, or red shoveler! And they are found in such numbers that it justifies a dedicated trip.
Waterfowl hunting opportunities exist all over Argentina, but the highest concentration of options is found in the valleys of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, in the Entre Rios and Santa Fe, as well as the Buenos Aires provinces. These trips can be easily combined with fishing (known as “cast-and-blast trips”) and/or big-game hunting, especially for such animals as water buffalo.
Upland bird hunting in Argentina
Locally known as “perdiz”, which is the Spanish for “partridge“, the bird that you’re going to hunt in Argentina has nothing to do with the grey (Am. E.: “Hungarian”) or red-legged partridges. Allow us to introduce spotted tinamou (Nothura maculosa), a small, plump bird, with brown camouflaging plumage that includes distinctive spotting and barring. Endemic to the Pampas, spotted tinamou has curious reproduction patterns, with the male bird responsible for nesting and incubation, and usually prefers hiding or running to flying
Much like the Old World partridge, perdiz is an excellent bird to hunt over pointers and setters, with Brittany spaniel apparently the top choice of local outfitters who offer this hunt. Good perdiz grounds usually happen to be good pigeon and dove grounds, too, and most outfitters offer “mixed bag” trips that allow you to pursue both types of bird shooting.
Pigeon and dove shooting
Pigeon and dove shooting in Argentina hardly needs an additional introduction. Most offers are spread along the Argentinean grain belt that covers northern Pampas from Buenos Aires and westwards up to the Andes, including but not limited to San Luis, La Pampa, and Cordoba provinces. Where the climate allows the farmers to reap three or four harvests a year, pigeons and dove flocks literally cover the skies and turn daytime into… well, not exactly night, but it can get noticeably darker when a big flock passes over.
Pigeons and especially doves are considered pests, and a serious threat to grain fields. For doves there is no limit, and if you’re not careful with the empties you you might find yourself standing in a pile of spent casings like Charlie Sheen’s hero in “Hot Shots 2”. The province of Cordoba is legendary for pigeon and dove shooting, but many other areas leave nothing to this famous destination
Image credit: Exciting Outdoors Argentina
Big game hunting in Argentina
Big-game hunting in Argentina is every bit as great as bird shooting. Red deer is the king of the game animals also there, but there are many other big-game animals, local and introduced, and hunting opportunities range from easy to extra challenging adventures in the desolate foothills of the Andes
Red deer hunting
Red deer have been introduced to Argentina over a century ago. Now the country is one of the best red deer hunting destinations in the world, combining excellent trophy quality with first-rate hunting lodges. Red deer opportunities exist in many of Argentina’s provinces, from the wildest corners of Patagonia to rural areas next to Buenos Aires. It’s typical for Argentinean outfitters to have a fenced area, where they keep their breeding stock, and a wide tract of free range hunting grounds.
When booking a red deer hunt in Argentina, think about what kind of experience you are after. There are a lot of options, from spot-and-stalk hunts in savannah type habitat, to rolling hills that remind one of classic deer stalking in the Scottish Highlands to wooded mountains. For a true wilderness adventure, look for Patagonian hunts in such provinces as Chubut and Neuquén, but bear in mind hunting there is a challenge, and success is far from guaranteed.
Image credit: Algar Safaris
Hunting Argentina’s native mammals
Most big-game hunters in Argentina pursue animals that have been introduced there by humans, but there are options to pursue some local fauna, too. Those include brocket deer, white-lipped peccary, and puma. Puma hunting can be on a bait, by stalking, or with a pack of hounds, while brocket deer and the peccary are hunted by still-hunting at feeding areas. When booking a hunt for native species, such as puma, peccary, and brocket deer, make sure with your outfitter whether your trophy can be legally exported. This is not possible in some cases, even though the hunt itself may be perfectly legal.
Other big-game hunting options in Argentina
One introduced species in Argentina that deserves serious attention is the blackbuck. Originally stemming from India, they are not allowed to be hunted within their natural range. However, the Pampas of Argentina are very similar to the highland grasslands of India where the blackbuck originated, and free-range hunting is exciting and challenging. The same can be said about the water buffalo, which feels itself as much at home, and is as ill-tempered and seemingly bulletproof, as in its natural Asian habitats.
While feral sheep and goats are mostly an extra animal to be taken at chance, some outfitters are working on free-range populations of “Texas Dall” and “Patagonian Dall“. Those are “designer breeds” of sheep that combine the white fur of the Dall’s sheep with impressive, Marco Polo type horns; if free ranging populations establish themselves in the Andes, Argentina may gain recognition as a mountain hunting destination as well.
In addition, many outfitters in Argentina offer excellent hunting opportunities for fallow deer, axis deer, mouflon, and wild boar, as well as such exotics as Pere David’s deer and the Balearean Boc.
Best time for hunting in Argentina
A hunting trip in Argentina is possible all year round, but of course some species and locations are best to hunt in a certain period. For red deer this is definitely April, when the Game of Kings have their rut in the Southern Hemisphere. For red stag hunting enthusiasts, that offers a chance to live that wonderful time twice in the year – in the spring in Argentina or New Zealand, and in the fall in the Old World. You can have a good time hunting water buffalo and wild boar throughout the year, while the best time for axis deer and blackbuck is believed to be the southern hemisphere summer, from October to April.
As for birds hunting, waterfowl is best during the Argentine fall and winter, typically from May to August. Doves and pigeons are equally numerous in all times of the year, but the climate of some provinces may be a decisive factor. While central regions such as Cordoba enjoy pleasant weather throughout the year, in the northern, that is, hotter provinces such as Santa Fe, Tucumán, or Santiago del Estero you might want to schedule your trip for the South American winter. The cooler and drier months from April to October work better for hunting and fishing than the wet season in the subtropical climate.
By contrast, in such southern regions as Rio Negro, especially if your outfitter operates at a considerable altitude in the Andes, you might have to deal with cold and snow on late season hunts.
How much does it cost?
Pigeon and dove shooting in Argentina is priced starting at about $300-$400 a day. This in itself is not too expensive, considering that the price includes accommodations in a comfortable lodge and excellent meals with local wines, but it’s not nearly the end of the bill. A substantial extra is ammunition, and we can be talking about a thousand rounds a day and more – don’t forget to factor it in, as well as other items such as tips to personnel, gun rental and/or permits, etc. Waterfowl and upland hunts start at $800-$900 a day, but given a much lower ammo consumption, the total costs end up about the same.
With big-game hunts, a rough estimate is $500 a day plus trophy, which may run from $1,500-$2,500 for a blackbuck to $2,500-$500 for a water buffalo. Red deer hunts start at about $4,000. Mind that some outfitters price their trophy fees according to the size of the antlers, while others go for a flat fee regardless of the trophy size. A gold medal-sized deer may push the price well over $10,000. Shop carefully, in advance, and wait for special promo deals that may bring you “any size” deer at a flat fee, and/or a chance at an extra animal such as fallow deer, blackbuck, or wild boar thrown in.
Travel to Argentina
Most international hunters arrive to Buenos Aires, and then take a local flight to the provincial capital where the hunt will take place, or, if the operation is not far from the capital, to get there in the outfitter’s car. When travelling with arms, it is recommended, if possible, to make your port of entry Cordoba or another provincial capital, as most hunters report that processing of documents is easier and takes less time there.
However, this is not always possible, as most international flights are serviced by Ezeisa Airport (EZE), while most domestic flights go through the Newbery Airport (AEP), which is across town. If you need to change airports, and you most probably will, be sure to allow enough time; a stopover in Buenos Aires is actually a good idea. Most outfitters speak good English, but it’s a good idea to pick up some basic Spanish to communicate with bird boys and for random local interactions. Modern language learning apps are just right for the job.
Citizens of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and the European Union can enter Argentina for stay under 90 days without a visa. Gun import permits are necessary, though. For non-automatic rifles and shotguns it may be possible to acquire the permit on arrival, while semi-automatic weapons are more strictly regulated. Your outfitter will be able to help you navigate through laws and requirements but be sure to ask them in advance. It might be easiest to rent a gun from the outfitters who usually have enough to choose from; if you can shoot well with a regular-stocked Beretta or Browning over/under, that would be the recommended route.
Image credit: Southern Rivers Patagonia – Fly Fishing Trips
Argentina beyond hunting
First things first: there is fishing. Whether going after the native golden dorado in the mighty rivers of the north, or the introduced brown trout in the clear mountain lakes and streams in the Andes, fishing in Argentina is exciting and totally recommended to any angling enthusiast. Even if you just wouldn’t mind casting a line into some water as a side activity to hunting, explore the fishing opportunities of Argentina before booking your hunting trip.
Argentina is best known worldwide for tango, steaks, and wine, and the reputation is more than deserved. Wine tours, first-rate cuisine in local restaurants, and the night life in Buenos Aires, are second-to-none if you’re into such things. Alternatively, there are numerous opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, whitewater rafting, and even, in the right time of year, mountain skiing. You can admire colonial architecture in the old cities or explore pre-Columbian cultures, or one of the amazing blends of the local and immigrant lifestyle such as the gaucho.
With its rich fauna and diverse landscapes, well-developed hunting industry and numerous other attractions, Argentina should be on every travelling hunter’s list.
Main image credit: Rincon de Luna