Waterfowler's Journal: Hunt of a Lifetime

The sky was alive with ducks. It was June, which is wintertime in Argentina. The chill of duck season was in the air, and we had a dozen decoys bobbing in the water 20 yards from our hide. Our brush blind was just big enough for two people and wouldn’t have fooled much back home, but it was more than adequate here. A dozen teal of some sort flitted over and splashed into the decoys. 

I summoned all the Spanish I could remember from high school to tell my guide, Cally, how pretty I thought it all was. Cally laughed and said, “No comprendo.” His English wasn’t any better than my Spanish, but within a few minutes it didn’t matter because we were communicating in the universal language of duck hunters, crouching to hide from working birds, high-fiving over the good shots, and laughing at the misses. I finished the morning with a mixed bag of Brazilian, Puna, silver, and cinnamon teal; Chiloé wigeon; white-faced whistling ducks; white-cheeked and yellow-billed pintails; and a couple of hefty rosy-billed pochards.

It’s almost always like that in Argentina, as if the best dream you’ve ever had about duck hunting is happening in real life.

It’s up to you to decide if an Argentine duck hunting trip aligns with your financial reality. But the truth is that you can probably pull it off for less than the cost of a decent elk or mule deer hunt right here in the States. The key is finding a good international hunting consultant who can make the planning seamless by handling the details of finding a quality outfitter, crossing international borders, overcoming language barriers, and understanding local hunting regulations and customs.

David Denies Bird Hunting was one of the first companies to cater to American wingshooters traveling to Uruguay and Argentina. Doug Larsen, DU magazine’s Last Call columnist and DU TV host, has been working with David Denies since the late ’80s, and he estimates that he’s been to Argentina a couple hundred times. “I love hunting the prairie in Canada, but I’ve also been there on the 10th of October and gotten three feet of snow. When that happens, the hunt’s done,” Larsen says. “From a percentage standpoint you have a higher chance of virtually guaranteed success in Argentina. And it’s very comfortable.” 

If you decide to go, Larsen recommends adding a day or two of dove or pigeon hunting to the itinerary. I agree. Every shotgunner ought to experience an Argentine dove field at least once. Still, my priority would be the ducks. You’ll get to shoot plenty (most outfitters allow you to shoot 30 or more birds per day), and the variety of species you’re likely to see is incredible.

Plan to take plenty of photos and eat lots of duck while you’re there, as bringing birds back to the States from South America is all but impossible. “One of the only downsides of Argentina is that you can’t take ducks back for taxidermy,” Larsen says. “We’re hopeful that someday some of those laws might change.”

When it comes to budgeting the cost of your trip, Larsen says to be sure to include airfare and overlooked expenses, like gratuities for the guides and chefs, and shotgun shells, which you’ll purchase on site. The price of ammunition fluctuates but is currently around $16 per box with most outfitters.

It’s possible to bring your own gun to Argentina, but most consultants recommend using the outfitter’s. Their racks are usually stocked with well-kept Beretta and Benelli autoloaders and sometimes a few over/unders. I’ve never had a problem finding something I like. Check the forecast and pack appropriate duck hunting gear, including chest waders. Also ask about power outlets, since you might need adapter plugs to charge your electronics. “Generally speaking, everyone goes way overboard on packing,” Larsen says. “A duffel bag with the clothes you’d normally wear at duck camp is plenty.”

You can expect some jet lag after a long flight, but you’ll quickly forget about it when the kind of duck hunting you’ve only seen in dreams is happening right in front of you.