ARGENTINA DOVE SHOOTING

Argentina dove shooting is spectacular.  With a drift towards arable changing the agricultural prospects of much of the Northern plains, swathes of scrubby woodland are being cleared to support vast acres of crops.  Here, an abundant natural food source has seen the native Torcaza (eared dove) population explode.  Truly, the spectacle of a million or so doves, taking to the air as one, is astonishing to behold.

In biblical, plague-like proportions, the doves flight between roost and feeding grounds or water hole, both morning and evening.  The Argentina dove shooting program follows this pattern.  Guns are positioned at first light, some 60-70 yards apart, usually on the edge of a crop, typically sunflower, corn, sorghum or soy-bean.  You can bring your own guns, but the sheer volume of shots may not suit an old English gun.  It is easy enough to borrow from the estate, usually 20G over and under, or five shot semi-auto's.  Whether you shoot single guns or a pair, each gun has a bird-boy, who will either load for you, or simply tip a box of cartridges into your pocket as needed, and count your birds.  He sits on a cool box, loaded with cold beers, soft drinks, water etc, and has a radio link to the head field guide.  The doves pass over-head in singles and small flocks initially, gradually increasing as the sun rises, in wave after wave, as far as the eye can see, and in all directions, like WW2 Bombers massing over London .

They fly with a spirited wing beat, jinking and swerving at will.  With a steady flow of doves at every conceivable height and angle, you can shoot at the rate and range which best suits. You can really test yourself; try those tricky head-on grouse shots, or the tall Partridges well out in front, or some telescopic pheasant types.  Crossers, L-R or R-L, swinging diagonally back to front or in reverse, and all with complete abandon.  Every shot is possible, and in infinite variation, indeed there is no better place to practice for your season at home.  It is a really good way to improve and hone your skill, try a really tricky angle or height, over and over until you master the challenge and perfect your discipline.  If you choose to stop for a rest, have a smoke or a cold drink, there's none of the stigma of sitting out a drive, or missing the only covey.  It is amazing just to hear them flying overhead...Exhilarating stuff!

Lunch is typically out in the field; an 'asado', or barbecue of delicious grass-fed beef, chops, chorizos and dove-breast kebabs, washed down with wonderful Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza.  Huge quantities of meat form the mainstay of the Argentine diet. After three weeks there, back at home I am living off nothing but salad!  After lunch maybe a snooze in a hammock; then off to the afternoon flight, perhaps lining a hedge between feed and roost, along a line of trees, or up in the espinal wooded hills.  The doves build steadily in numbers until the sun sets, clouds blackening the sky.  The shooting is indeed thrilling and it is hard to discipline oneself to shoot only the most testing of targets.  You really can shoot 1000 doves each per day and often more.  Your shoulder is the only thing that might suffer from over enthusiasm.  You do not really need double guns, because you are always in the 'hot seat' and the drives last four hours!  The doves are a valuable food source for the poor rural communities, to whom they are given.  Often, as the evenings draw to a close, local children can be seen helping the bird-boys gather up all the birds.  Lightly battered Dove breasts are a delicious hors d'oeuvres or wrapped in bacon form a splendid kebab for the barbecue

The lodges are all very comfortable, with twin or double rooms, all en-suite.  With typically friendly and attentive staff, every effort is made to ensure your visit is both enjoyable and trouble free.  Accommodation is offered on a full board basis, with an open bar containing most of the popular local and international spirits and soft drinks, good beer and splendid wines.  Some lodges are surrounded by their own land, others have between 20 and 40 minutes drive to the shooting areas.  Argentina dove shooting takes place all year, with a seasonal variation of shooting fields in the different provinces.

Teams usually shoot over three days.  Arriving from Buenos Aires on a morning flight, transfer to the lodge for lunch, then out to the field for the afternoon dove flight.  Two full days of 'doves' thereafter, followed by a morning dove flight, prior to a midday departure for Buenos Aires. There is also excellent wildfowling in the vast wetlands of Mesopotamia, or Perdiz (local partridge) walked up over dogs.  Various provincial bag limits apply.  A complimentary itinerary can be arranged for non-shoot guests.  Colonial architecture abounds and there are colourful local markets to explore.  You would love the horses here; there's magnificent riding opportunities; polo, or hacking across miles of open country with the gauchos.  There is a very relaxed feel to the country, and anything seems possible.  This makes Argentina an outstanding holiday destination.

There is much to see and do besides dove shooting.  Amazing fishing prevails in Patagonia, there's stunning mountain country along the Andes, perfect for trekking, riding, or skiing in the winter.  One of the world's great natural wonders, Iguazu Falls, is set amidst a 2100sq km national park in the north-eastern rainforest bordering Brazil.  Here, the Rio Parana plunges 80m deep over a two km wide gorge.  At the other extreme, southern Patagonia boasts the Perito Moreno glacier, and penguins in the Beagle Channel.  Of course there is Buenos Aires, home of the tango, and the Alvear Palace Hotel.  Plenty of fun can be had on a 'Boy's Tour' with a wealth of local handicrafts, silverware and leather goods to appease those left at home.

For more information please view our current brochure (300kb PDF)