The Different Wingshooting Species Offered in Argentina
Intro to Wingshooting in Argentina
Thousands of birds fly across the skies of Argentina every day. From dove to pigeon to duck to perdiz, Argentina is home to a great diversity and density of birds. This abundance of access to hunt birds has vaulted Argentina into one of the premier wingshooting locations on Earth! With plenty of space to hunt, time to get in the bush, and more than enough birds, Argentina has everything you’d need to get started with wingshooting. And with South American Adventure Safaris there to help, things just got that much easier for your next Argentina wingshooting adventure!
Dove Shooting Argentina
Season: September – April
- 4 nights of full deluxe lodging in double occupancy rooms
- 4 full Dove Hunting days (High Volume)
- Gun rental available
- Hunting License
- Full boarding service – Open Bar
Entre Rios, Argentina
Season: May – August
- 5 Nights of full deluxe lodging in double occupancy rooms
- 5 Hunting & Fishing days (Dove, Duck, Partridge, Pigeon hunting and Dorado fishing),
- Gun rental and fishing equipment available
- Hunting and Fishing License
- Full boarding service – Open Bar
Entre Rios, Argentina
Season: September – April
- 4 Nights of full deluxe lodging in double occupancy rooms
- 2 Full days of Dorado Fishing
- 2 Full days of Dove Shooting
- Gun rental and Fishing equipment available
- Hunting & Fishing License
- Full boarding service – Open Bar
Species Offered
Argentina is home to some fantastic bird species listed below. Bird selection can be catered to the meat or trophies you want to see, and with multiple options, there is a bird species for everyone to enjoy. Here is what you can expect from each of the major wingshooting species offered in Argentina.
Dove
Doves are considered a problem species in Argentina due to their massive population numbers and the damage they cause to farms/agriculture. Thus, dove hunting in Argentina is quite popular, encouraged, and helpful for the country. In fact, Argentina has a massive amount of land dedicated specifically to dove hunting to help reduce these numbers. The dove of Argentina, the “golden eared dove,” can reproduce up to 6 times in one year with 2-3 eggs each time. This, over time, results in a lot of doves if population numbers aren’t kept in check.
When hunting doves, you’ll often be faced with what has become known as a “high volume” situation. With so many doves, hundreds may take off at one time. In these moments, try to lock in on one individual and trust your wingshooting fundamentals. They estimate that each hunter shoots about 1,000 shells per day while dove hunting in Argentina. The key is to quickly ready yourself again after each shot, regardless of whether you hit the target or not.
Doves live in the warmer regions of Argentina year-round. Luckily, dove hunting in Argentina is also year-round giving plenty of time and opportunity to get on a hunt. These birds will often roost in patches of trees that give protection from predators above. Chasing them out of the trees/nests with a decoy is the perfect opportunity to take a shot.
Pigeon
Similar to doves, pigeons are a problem species in Argentina due to their massive population numbers and tendencies to cause damage to farms. While similar to doves, pigeons are actually a little bigger and tend to compete with doves, usually causing a separation in where they roost. Similarly to doves, pigeons produce a lot of eggs. This usually looks like 5-6 broods per year with 1-2 eggs being laid each time with birds living up to 15 years, if not longer.
The best techniques for pigeon hunting include employing a decoy or by “intercepting” the birds as they fly by. A decoy in this context is usually a spinning wing/carousel that is placed on the ground and attracts the pigeons to come to. Intercepting a pigeon is finding an opportunity where a pigeon flies by as they move from their roost to food or water. With plenty of flat space to hunt on, there are often many opportunities for a great shot. Always be aware of other hunters and practice good field safety.
Pigeon hunting in Argentina is legal year-round. However, pigeons are known to congregate more when the weather starts to cool and food becomes more scarce. Therefore, the cooler months of May through September are known for being a particularly good time to wingshoot pigeons. There is no bag limit for pigeons in Argentina.
Duck
Ducks provide a great hunt for those in Argentina. With multiple species of duck available, including Rosy-Billed Poachard, teal ducks, tree duck, or pintail, there is good duck diversity that all come with great meat and trophies. Ducks don’t produce as many eggs per year as the aforementioned doves/pigeons, so population numbers are less and regulations are more.
Duck hunting season in Argentina runs from May to August, the winter in the southern hemisphere. There are licenses and regulations surrounding duck hunting in Argentina, so make sure you are properly documented before heading out. The bag limit is 25 ducks per day, so there is still plenty of hunting capacity, but not unlimited like doves/pigeons.
The best time of day to hunt ducks is in the morning. These birds are typically found in or around bodies of water, both fresh and salt. The best dove hunt settings are usually on/around a lake or pond. Using decoys and calls are the best techniques for lining up a shot. By attracting ducks to a location, you can lie in wait. The best range to shoot a duck from is in the 20-40 yard range.
Perdiz
Perdiz, otherwise called partridge or tinamou, is a great hunt in Argentina. These birds are known for useful feathers and delicious meat that can be prepared in various ways. Perdiz can be found in a variety of provinces throughout Argentina giving plenty of opportunity to get in the field and take a shot. With rapid reproduction being a feature of perdiz biology, there isn’t any concern with population numbers throughout the country.
Perdiz are known for being minimalistic fliers. While they prefer to run from damage, they can definitely fly, and quickly at that, when the moment calls. Utilizing a dog to find and chase out perdiz is a fun hunt for both you and the dog. Usually, the hunt will consist of you walking through the flat landscape waiting for flushes where you can take a shot. With high population densities, there will be plenty of opportunity to shoot. The best distance to take a shot at a perdiz is between 10 and 40 yards.
Hunting season for perdiz in Argentina lasts from May to August, the winter in the southern hemisphere. These birds thrive in grasslands, farms, and scrublands where there is some overhead protection, but a lot of space to move around on the ground and abundant food. The bag limit for perdiz is 10 birds per hunter per day.
Wingshoot with SAAS in Argentina
With healthy populations of doves, pigeons, ducks, and perdiz across Argentina, there is no shortage of fantastic wingshooting opportunities to be had. The landscape is optimal for these birds and provides an easy tract for hunters to traverse the land and fire off thousands of shells at a chance to take home some fantastic bird meat/trophies. With the natural opportunities available, most people just need some infrastructure to stay and some knowledge on where to go. This is where South American Adventure Safaris come in; SAAS has everything you need from guns, to food, to knowledge, and a place to stay to enable you to have the wingshooting experience of a lifetime in Argentina. Come see what you’ve been missing out on and schedule your once-in-a-lifetime wingshooting experience today!
