Some shooting trips are measured by numbers. This one certainly could be. Thousands of shells expended, countless birds in the air, and more memorable shots than any of us could reasonably remember. But what made this Argentine adventure special wasn’t simply the shooting.  It was the people, the places, and the experiences shared along the way.

I have been fortunate to travel to Argentina for dove shooting three or four times over the past decade, but it had been twenty years since I last ventured south for waterfowl. It didn’t take long on this late May trip to realize that I had waited far too long to return. The experience was every bit as memorable as I remembered and a strong reminder that this journey deserves a place on my calendar far more often.

Our journey began with two wonderful nights in Buenos Aires, one of the world’s great cities. Elegant architecture, lively cafés, excellent wines, and gourmet late dinners reminded us quickly that Argentines have mastered the art of enjoying life. The city served as the perfect introduction to a trip that would blend world-class sporting traditions with remarkable hospitality. Equally impressive was the professionalism of our B.A. ground team, whose seamless handling of logistics allowed us to focus entirely on enjoying ourselves.

From Buenos Aires, we chartered mostly west for 50 minutes to Santa Rita Lodge in Buenos Aires Province for three and a half days of waterfowl and perdiz hunting. Santa Rita embodies everything that makes Argentine bird hunting legendary. The landscape stretches endlessly across productive agricultural country full of marshes, small lakes, and potholes, creating an ideal habitat for ducks. Mornings often began before sunrise with flights of ducks appearing against the first light of day, followed by an afternoon shoot before dusk, which could be substituted for perdiz shooting over hardworking dogs.

For the ducks, we were allocated four boxes of shells in the morning and two in the afternoon.  Most of us shot through our allocation daily.  The blinds are clean and dry, and the shooting team looked after us with punctuality, care, and tremendous service.  The perdiz do have an eight-bird-per-hunter limit in the afternoon, which was still plenty of action.

The shooting was outstanding, but the atmosphere around the lodge was every bit as memorable. Long lunches, exceptional Argentine beef, carefully selected wines, and plenty of storytelling became a daily ritual. By midweek, most of us were shooting well enough to feel confident and missing often enough to remain humble… a balance that sporting traditions have required for generations.

The second chapter of the trip took us by charter 90 minutes mostly north to El Monte Lodge on the border of the San Luis and Cordoba Provinces, where we spent two and a half days pursuing doves and decoyed pigeons. If Santa Rita showcased Argentina’s incredible waterfowl resource, El Monte demonstrated why the country remains the undisputed king of high-volume bird shooting.

The dove hunting was everything one hopes it will be with steady streams of birds, hot barrels, and the occasional realization that your shoulder was negotiating terms with your brain. Just when you thought the action couldn’t improve, the decoyed pigeon shooting provided some of the most exciting and sporting opportunities of the entire trip. Fast-flying birds committing to the spread offered challenging shooting and unforgettable moments.

Several of us had never experienced high-volume pigeon hunting on prior trips.  We were thrilled that we were there at peak season to enjoy both the doves and pigeons.

The cuisine at El Monte was over-the-top wonderful.  We ate lunch daily in the field where their Chef prepared the very best meals I have ever experienced al fresco in the outdoors.  They were simply incredible from the starters to the desserts.

Throughout both lodges, the professionalism of the staff was remarkable. Every detail seemed thoughtfully managed, from the field teams and bird boys to the kitchen staff and lodge owners. Their warmth, efficiency, and pride in what they do elevated an already exceptional experience.

Great bird shooting may be what first brings you to Argentina, but it is the friendships, hospitality, cuisine, and atmosphere that keep you coming back. Santa Rita and El Monte offer distinctly different experiences, yet together they create one of the finest bird-shooting combinations in the sporting world. Wild ducks, perdiz, endless doves, and challenging pigeons are all part of the experience, wrapped in the unmistakable hospitality for which Argentina is known.

By the end of the trip, our group had solved most of the world’s problems from around the dinner table, consumed enough beef to concern a cardiologist, and shot enough shells to make the national cartridge manufacturers very happy.  As with any truly memorable sporting adventure, we were already discussing plans for our return before the trip had even ended.

What will I remember most? Certainly, the shooting. Argentina offers some of the finest wild bird hunting on earth, and this trip reinforced that reputation at every turn. But years from now, I’ll likely remember the laughter around the dinner table, the camaraderie in the field, the shared stories, and the simple pleasure of spending time with a terrific group of people, including my stepson, Jeremy.  I grew up shooting with my father and grandfathers.  My time in the field with Jeremy is very special and reminds me of many great family memories with my dad.  It’s one of the reasons I am so grateful to be in the shooting and fly-fishing travel business.

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