Dove Hunting Near Tucuman....

I don't have a lot of time to write in detail but plan to when the season slows a bit.  Suffice to say that I have seen more doves in one field here than I've seen my entire lifetime in Idaho.  It is simply difficult to believe the quantity of birds without actually seeing it....   More later.... with photos....

Bird hunting in Argentina is something that should be experienced by every serious hunter.  

Skunk Vs Dog. Skunk 1, Dog 0

ISAIAS MICIU (Photographer)

A couple of days ago 3 Elhew Pointers arrived to grace our kennels and to help us find the illusive California Quail in our area.  We spent the last couple of days letting the dogs run and get used to their new environment.  They seem to be adjusting without a hitch.

Today we took the two sibling pointers who seem to work very well together.  The bitch (Pearl) tends to roll wide and the stud (Whip) checks in once in awhile and stays a bit closer to the gun.   Towards the end of our hunt Pearl locked up tighter than a frogs ass on a particularly thorny bush and wouldn't budge.  Her brother, Whip, backed her with razor like precision.  However, the "bird" wouldn't fly no matter how I beat that bush.  The bitch wouldn't relent and finally dived headfirst into that damn thorn bush and nearly disappeared.  After about 15 seconds she seemed to be displaying what looked like 'terrier' like movements.  It was as though she was snapping at a squirrel!

I moved in for a closer look and saw something I wish I hadn't.  It was a young skunk posed to deliver his payload!  Before I could get the bitch out of the bush the skunk had done what it was made to do.  So strong is her sense of smell and so pungent was the odor of the skunk that poor Pearl nearly fell over.  She couldn't and wouldn't move!  I quickly grabbed her by the collar to get her the hell out of there and managed to avoid "most" of the spray.

The bitch trotted off but something was definitely awry.  She began to weave and nearly fell over three  or four different times.  Fortunately, the worst of the smell dissipated enough for her to stand upright without much problem.

One mud bath, two tomato sauce baths and two white soap baths later Pearl was no worse for the wear.  In fact, she seemed to appreciate our efforts to help her.   Tomorrow, we will head out to another great estancia to find more quail.  I hope to god there are no damn skunks!

Quail Hunting Argentina

The boys and I spent the week driving the back roads and hiking the foothills of Patagonia searching for California Quail.  These birds were introduced in Chile over 100 years ago and found their way into Patagonian Argentina where the climate, topography and farming create a perfect habitat.

What we found were coveys from 6 to 125 birds in size.  In our area of the world the quail tend to stay close to water sources and a tree called "Maiten". These trees produced a little red seed that the quail can't seem to resist.  The Patagonian steppe is ideal habitat for California quail which have multiplied into the tens of thousands.  These days it's a rare occasion to drive in our area without seeing at least a covey or two near the road.

In the coming weeks our first quail guests will arrive to inaugurate our new program.  We have located several dozen coveys on 6 different private estancias covering several thousand acres.  Perhaps the most surprising yet fortunate aspect of quail hunting in our area is that almost nobody hunts them.  The typical Argentine isn't an avid hunter and their isn't one single commercial hunting program within a 6 hour drive.  In fact, I know of only one other commercial quail hunting program in the entire country.  Now THAT is exclusivity.  I suspect that others will follow our lead over the next several years.  In the mean time we plan to enjoy hunting alone without competition.

Today, our youngest English Pointers managed to sniff out several coveys and pointed very well and steady.   Our U.S. bred and trained Elhew Pointers have taken to our "Andean Quail" without missing a beat. These incredible dogs are a pleasure to watch and to hunt over.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

New World Record Red Stag 2011 (New Zealand)

Mark Dickson shot this Red Stag in New Zealand which is now the current world record.  The stag scored 640/3/8 SCI.  Congratulations mark!  


I can't imagine how this big boy managed to keep his chin from dragging the ground all day....

Are There Red Stag South of San Martin?

The area of San Martin de Los Andes has become wildly famous for its fly-fishing and somewhat famous for it's Red Stag hunting.  So much so that when hunters hear of hunting these grande beasts in Argentina they invariably thing of the mountains of San Martin.  But do they exist further South?  The answer is "Yes", they do.

As far South as Trevelin Red Stag are found in good numbers as are wild boar.  The difference, I believe, is that they are more difficult to see and therefore more difficult to hunt.  The San Martin area is surrounded by high mountain desert.  Seeing the stag is not a problem.  If one travels further South he will find them amongst the forests of the Andes mountain range and Patagonian Steppe.

Make no mistake, there are plenty of stag in Central Patagonia....they are just a little more hidden.  Currently, I am living in town of Trevelin and have access to hunting areas.  Feel free to get in contact with me for information about the area....

Why Is Cordoba "The" Place to Hunt Doves? Or...Is It?

If you have heard or read about hunting doves in Argentina you have undoubtedly come across information about Cordoba.  For the last twenty years Cordoba has become the poster-child for the entire dove hunting scene.  The result of this fame has created fierce competition for leases in the best flyways.  Rights to hunt these properties have become highly sought after.   A little more research will reveal that almost all of the lodges located in the area are offering the same hunts for the same properties.   The question is, "How many great places to shoot are there...?"

On a "normal" hunting day there are at least a dozen or more hunters trying to get the same spot that you are trying to get.  So, there is always a race to get to "the spot" at the well known lodges.   Recently, a couple of lodges took a new direction and began hunting a new area in between the more well known hunting areas.  The result has been very well received.  While others fighting for field space these lodges are enjoying no competition.....  I suspect the word will get out over the coming years and it will become as competitive as Cordoba.  But for now....this may be a good option for the hunter who wants to avoid the crowd.