Wes Hixon Outdoor Adventures

Wes and Paco would like to invite you to come experience Old World charm in the recently completed spacious “Estancia La Peregrina,” located in Argentina’s Santiago del Estero province.  Here on 11,000 private acres guest can enjoy Wingshooting and big game hunting.  The lodge has approximately 6,500 square feet with 6 double bedrooms and 3 suites, each having queen size beds, satellite TV, bar, air conditioning, security safes and internet; in addition to a spacious commons area with two fireplaces and a fully stocked bar.  A full basement with a large wine cellar stocked with the finest of Argentina’s wines:  Cabernet, Malbec, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo and more!!  All guests are allowed to choose the wines they wish for lunch and dinner!  For those of you who enjoy a fine cigar, step over to the Exhibitor and choose the cigar of your choice!  Our chef will offer you two first class menus daily.  Should you require or wish to request a special diet, just let us know in advance.  We provide laundry service as well.  You are welcome to relax in the pool, hot tub, go horseback riding, or game viewing.  By the way we will be happy to provide waders, shotguns, and rifles as well. Come enjoy this all inclusive first class experience.

Dove:

Season is open from April 1 through July 31 annually and there are no limits. You can shoot on the ranch or if you want to experience the largest dove concentration in the world, we have fields 30 minutes to one hour’s drive away.  Cost is $500 per day per person.

Ducks:

We hunt ducks in 100,000 hectares of flooded marsh adjacent to the Uti River.  Our shoots normally offer up to 12 different species of ducks.  Duck hunts take place 40 minutes from the lodge.  Hunts are conducted over decoys.  Duck season opens May 1 and closes July 31.  Each hunter is allowed to harvest 25 ducks in the morning and 25 ducks in the evening.  Cost is $720 per day per person.

Pigeons:

Few places in Argentina can match our decoyed pigeon shoots.  Season is from April 1 through October 31 annually.  We normally limit each guest to 250 pigeons per day.  Cost is $720 per day per person.

Perdiz:

These partridges are hunted over pointing dogs.  Two hunters should expect to shoot an average of 10 to 12 perdiz per hunt.  We have both the greater and lesser peridiz.  Guest should be in reasonably good shape to hunt perdiz, as these hunts normally require a lot of walking.  Season opens May 1 and closes July 31 annually.  Cost is $720 per day per person.

Big Game:

Big game hunts are conducted on the ranch and in another adjacent area.  These hunts can be combined with Wingshooting in advance “OR” if a guest decides he or she wants to go big game hunting after coming to wingshoot, “No problem.” We will gladly accommodate you at no additional daily rate charge.  Standard trophy fees are paid for any animal you shoot.  Big game hunts are conducted by spot and stalk, sitting in blinds or tree stands.  Big Game only hunts cost $500 per day per person.

Additional Cost and Information:

v  Non-hunting observer $300 per day

v  Should your travel arrangements require you to arrive the day prior to or depart the day following your scheduled hunt we reserve the right to charge ½ day non-hunting rate

v  We rent 12 or 20 gauge semi-automatic shotguns.  Rental cost is $65 per day

v  We also rent 20 and 28 gauge over and under shotguns.  Rental cost is $65 per day

v  Rental rifles are 300, 264 and 243 calibers, rental cost is $70 per day

v  Shotgun shell cost: 12 or 20 gauge $12 per box of 25

v  28 or 410 gauge $13 per box of 25

v  12 or 20 gauge duck shells $15 per box of 25

v  Current annual non-resident license cost is $60 per person

v  6 or more guest have exclusivity of the lodge

v  We recommend our guest transfer from Cordoba to La Peregrina via private air charter.  We have a 5,000 foot landing strip next to the lodge

Wes has been Wingshooting in Argentina since 1990, that’s 21 years!  His latest trip was in June 2009, and he will be the first to tell you Argentina is the Wingshooting capital of the world.  The years of hunting have not affected the numbers of birds here.  However, in recent seasons the game departments and Argentina’s Outfitters have taken measures to preserve the quality of Duck and Pigeon shooting.  For example:  We now limit our Duck hunters to 25 Ducks in the morning and 25 Ducks in the evening per person.  That’s 50 Ducks per day per person!  Pigeon numbers are still very high.  However, like Ducks, Pigeons do not reproduce like Doves and depending on the year our hunters can expect to shoot from 200 to 300 pigeons per day.  Dove numbers are still unbelievable and crop farmers in Argentina consider them pest.  As a matter of fact if hunters do not harvest enough Dove annually, many farmers are forced to poison the Doves in order to save their crops, as still today agriculture crops and beef cattle are two of the main sources of income for Argentineans. Consequently, Dove season is open 365 days a year and hunters still enjoy no bag limits.

Wes hunted with Paco Riestra and family for the first time in 1998.  Since that time we have worked exclusively with Paco, Paloma & Asis.  Our prices are very competitive; our shooting areas are as good as any Argentina has to offer.  Accommodations, staff, food, wine, beer, soft drinks and service are great.  Late model comfortable Toyota and Mercedes Benz vehicles are used to transport our guests.  Semiautomatic over and under and side by side rental shotguns are furnished with Beretta being our most popular rental shotgun.

Dove Shooting:

We have three lodges to accommodate our guest one in the province of Cordoba and two in the province of Santiago Del Estero.

Cordoba Dove High Season Shooting Cost (March 1 through August 31 annually):

Cordoba Dove Low Season Shooting Cost (September 1 through February 28 annually)

Additional Cost:

·        Non-hunting observers $250 per day

·        License cost $65 per day

·        Gun rental $65 per day

·        Shells

Doves Santiago Del Estero Province El Picazo Lodge maximum capacity is 12 guests at this lodge.  We shoot the following species and dates:

·        Dove – April 1 through July 31, the cost is $350 per person per day.

·        Pigeon – April 1 through October 30 – $600 per person per day.

·        Perdiz – May 1 through July 31 – $600 per person per day

Duck hunting here takes place in flooded timber bayous.  Outboard powered boats and “gauchos” on horseback pulling boats, deliver you to your Duck blind.  This is a Duck hunting trip you will always remember.

·        Ducks – May 1 through July 31 – $600 per person per day

Additional Cost:

·        Non-hunting transfer days $250 per person

·        Non-hunting observers $250 per day

·        Hunting license $60 per person your entire shoot

·        Gun Rental $65 per day

Pigeon Shooting in Cordoba Province

Pigeon Shooting Rates:

Additional costs:

·        First and last transfer days - $300 per person

·        Non-hunting observers $300 per day

·        License cost $65 per day

·        Gun rental $65 per day

·        Personal gun import fees $100 per gun.  Pigeon Shells $12 per box of 25, prices are based on double occupancy, single rooms additional cost is $100 per day per person.