Wes Hixon Outdoor Adventures

W

es has been wing shooting in Argentina at least once annually since 1990.  Think about that a moment; that’s 18 consecutive years!  After returning from his trip in June 2007 he had this to say “I think Duck hunting is better now than when I first started going to Argentina.  The Pigeon shooting is still incredible and our new Dove area is absolutely unbelievable.”  If you are into high volume Dove shooting at this time we are having guest shoot 6,000 plus rounds per day year round.

In 1998 Wes hunted with Paco Riestra and family for the first time.  Since that time we have worked exclusively with Paco, Paloma & Asis.  Our prices are very competitive with our volume of birds being as good as any outfitter can offer in Argentina.  Our staff, accommodations, food, wines and service are top notch.  We have a late model fleet of comfortable air conditioned vehicles.  Accommodations are in exclusive lodges and are based on double occupancy.  All rooms have private baths and air conditioning.

Season: Dove season is open year round.

• Pigeon season is open from April 1 to October 31.
• Duck season is open from April 1 to August 31.

Dove Shoots

Dove Season is open 365 days a year with no daily bag limit!!  When is the high season?  That’s a good question; shooting is excellent year round.  However, most of our clients prefer to shoot Doves from March 1 to August 31 annually, thus making this the high season.  We are often asked how far the drive from the lodge to Dove shoot is.  Normally our guest can expect to drive from 10 to 20 minutes and we normally return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta.  Unless, you prefer to have a traditional Argentinean field barbeque or weather conditions require us to travel greater distances to offer the best in high volume shooting.  It is approximately 90 minutes drive from Cordoba to our Dove shooting lodges.  All meals are prepared fresh daily and include full American breakfast, mouth watering steaks, fine wines, local spirits, beer, soft drinks and bottled water.

Parent and Child Dove Special

(available only at Santiago del Estero)

Parents are allowed to bring children up to 17 years of age and pay only for the shells they shoot, their license cost, and bird boy tips. Note: People under 21 years of age are not allowed to transport guns in and out of Argentina. Each parent or guardian over 21 years of age is allowed to import 3 shotguns. Guests under 21 years of age are allowed to hunt with parent's or guardian's guns, or they can rent one of our lodge-furnished guns.

The above prices include: English speaking company host meeting you at the airport upon arrival and accompanying you during your entire trip until your departure flight, all ground transportation, meals, lodging, guides, bird boys, beer, wine, local spirits, soft drinks and bottled water.  In addition government import fees of $100 per gun imported must be added to the cost of this package "OR" if you choose to rent one of our guns the cost is $60 per day.

High Season Dove Shooting Cost - March 1 to August 31

Low Season Dove Shooting Cost - Sept. 1 to February 28

The above prices do not include:

• Dove license $65 per day, per person.
• Personal gun import permits $100 per gun. 
  **Please Note** You must be 21 years of age or over to import guns into Argentina. Each person is allowed to import 3 shotguns. Guest under 21 years of age are allowed to hunt with a parent or guardian's gun or they can rent one of our lodge furnished guns.
• Should you choose to rent one of our lodge furnished Berettas or Benellis the cost is $60.00 per day.
  
•  12 or 20-gauge shotgun shells RD Brand pre-paid 70 days prior to your shoot $10.00 per box or purchased at the lodge $11.00 per box.  Fiocchi Brand shells POR.
• 28 and 410 gauge shotgun shells POR.
• Bird boy tips $25 per day.
• Tips for lodge staff (I.E. chefs, waiters, maids and vehicle drivers) at your group's discretion.

Non-hunting guests are welcome. The cost is $200 per day. Dove, Duck and Pigeon can be combined when seasons permit.

Just in case you don't understand a typical 3 day Dove shoot during high season based on 4 guests shooting in Cordoba.  Cost:

$   990.00 Daily rates; includes ground transportation meals, drinks, guides and lodging
$   195.00 License
$     75.00 Bird Boy Tips
$1,260.00 Plus gun import fees or gun rental fees and the cost of your shells.  Low season same package cost $1,080.00.

The same package in Santiago during high season cost $1,200.00 In low season cost is $1,050.00.

 Duck Shoots

We have two fully modern private lodges in two different areas. Our Duck hunting methods are somewhat different in each of these areas. One lodge is located at the water's edge in a very big river delta system. Here you travel by outboard-powered boats from the lodge and hunt backwater areas. Normally, two hunters accompany one guide, decoys are spread and blinds are prepared in the grass reeds. At our other lodge a short drive by vehicle is required to reach the water's edge.

Duck hunting in this area takes place in flooded timber and bayous. Outboard-powered aluminum boats and 'Gauchos' on horseback pulling aluminum boats deliver you to your hunting blind. 'That's Right'! Have you ever stepped out of a horse-drawn boat into your Duck blind? This is a Duck hunting experience you will always remember. We tell our Duck hunters to expect an average of 30 Ducks in the morning and 30 Ducks in the evening per person.  Floating and battery powered decoys, retrievers, and seasoned, call-wise guides accompany you in both areas.

We hunt Ducks from April 1 through August 31 annually. This is a very good species collector's hunt. As matter of fact, Wes' group in 2005, 2006 and 2007 killed at least 10 different species of Ducks most days they hunted. The most common species killed are Cinnamon Teal, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Red Shouvlers, Ringed Teal, Rosybill Pochard, Silver Teal, Speckled Teal, White Cheeked Pintail and Yellow Billed Pintail. Along with Chiloe Wigeon, Black Headed Duck and Brazilian Teal. On each shoot breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the lodge. As always, open bar, soft drinks, bottled water and outstanding meals are included. 

Duck Shooting Cost

The above prices do not include:

• Plus license cost $25 Government Issue fee plus $20 per day.
• Additional 12 or 20-gauge shotgun shells RD Brand $11/box. Fiocchi brand POR
• 28 and 410 gauge shotgun shells POR.
• Gun import fees $100 per gun "OR" gun rental $60 per day.
• Bird boy tips $25 per day.
• Tips for lodge staff (I.E. chef's, waiter's, maid's and van drivers) at your discretion. 

Non-hunting guests are welcome on all shoots. The cost is $200 per day in Santiago and $230 per day in Santa Fe. Note: Dove, Duck and Pigeon shooting can be combined when seasons coincide.

Pigeon Shoots

We hunt Pigeons in two areas. Shoots are conducted from our private lodge or from a private hotel, allowing us to host up to 18 hunters per shoot based on double occupancy. Pigeon shooting takes place on agriculture fields, in olive orchards, and around cattle feed lots. Shoots are conducted from April 1 through October 31 annually. Our hunters can expect to shoot approximately 300 Pigeons per person daily.

Pigeons are tough birds and fly very fast. 'We have watched our Pigeon shoots humble some very good wing shooters'. We normally use # 5 lead shot in 12 or 20-gauge shotguns. Decoys are used and work extremely well. By the way, these Pigeons are not black and white! They are wild Pigeons approximately twice the size of a Dove and colored very similar! Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge. Delicious traditional Argentinean barbecues are prepared fresh for lunch in the fields daily.

Pigeon Shooting Cost

The above prices do not include:

• Additional 12 or 20-gauge shotgun shells RD Brand $11/box. Fiocchi brand POR
• 28 and 410 gauge shotgun shells POR.
• License cost $65 per day-Cordoba, $35 - Santiago del Estero, $25 per day + $25 permit - Santa Fe, $35 - Formosa.   NOTE:  Hunting licenses are subject to change without notice!
• Gun import fees $100 per gun.
• Gun rental is $60 per day.
• Bird boy tips $25 per day.
• Tips for lodge staff (I.E. chefs, waiters, maids and van drivers) at your discretion.

Note: If you have fewer than 4 hunters in your group, contact us for cost. Non-hunting guests are welcome on all shoots. The cost is $200 per day. Dove, Duck and Pigeon shooting can be combined when seasons coincide.

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