Uruguay Duck Hunting - Argentina Dove Hunting

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How do I get to Argentina?
Clients fly to Buenos Aires from one of the North American gateways (MIA, JFK, IAD, DFW, IAH) on an overnight flight. Most flights leave the USA between 8:00 – 11:00 PM, and arrive in Buenos Aires (EZE) in the early AM between 6:30AM – 10:00AM. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, clients are met by our representatives, and either transfer by air or ground to their particular hunting lodges in Argentina. Many hunters choose to spend one night in Buenos Aires before beginning their South American hunting trip. Clients hunting in Cordoba, or Bahia Blanca will arrive by air (a large jet, not a commuter prop). All others will transfer by ground in a comfortable van.

How do I get to Uruguay?
Getting to Uruguay is easy. All clients take an overnight flight to Buenos Aires as listed above, and then have only a ground stop before continuing on to Montevideo. There is no need to change airports, claim bags, clear customs, or pass through immigration in Argentina. Your bags will connect, and you simply proceed to the next gate, just as you would if you were making a domestic connection in the USA. American Airlines has a direct flight from Miami (MIA) to Montevideo (MVD). It is currently on an every other day schedule but provides time to shoot the afternoon upon arrival into Uruguay.

What documents will I need to have in my possession for a hunting trip to Argentina and/or Uruguay?
If you are a U.S. Citizen, you do not need to apply for a visa—you only need to bring a valid passport. The passport must not expire within six months of your arrival date. If you are not an American citizen, please check with the appropriate consulate in your country to find out if you will need a visa. No inoculations are required for hunting trips to Argentina or Uruguay; however Los Gauchos is not qualified to convey medical advice. We encourage you to consult your family physician and/or the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for the most up to date information and recommendations.

If I decide to book a trip, what do I have to do next to reserve my dates?
We require a non-refundable deposit in the amount of $1,500 for our All Inclusive Argentina Group Hunting Trips, or All Inclusive Group Hunting Trips to Uruguay, 50% deposit for our Private Shooting Programs, and a $600 non-refundable deposit for our Discount Shooting Program—the Argentina 410. Deposits may be transferred to another hunter, but may not be applied to a future season, or year. Los Gauchos recommends that all clients protect their investments by purchasing trip cancellation insurance in the event that they become unable to travel for any reason.

What are the similarities and the difference between the All Inclusive Group trips, and the Private Shooting?
Both programs require a minimum of two shooters, and the price goes down as well as new shooters are added to the group. For both programs the final balance is adjusted by the number of shooters that the group leader fills in his party. For group packages, this is subject to availability of course, but for Private Shooting, it only takes two shooters to own the lodge and the hunting fields and/or waters all to themselves. Once Private Shooting is reserved, no other hunters will be added to the group unless they are guests of those who have deposited.

What is included in the Los Gauchos All Inclusive Argentina Hunting Packages, and in the Los Gauchos All Inclusive Hunting Packages in Uruguay?
Our customers want an all inclusive shooting package that is really all inclusive—with no surprises! Los Gauchos packages include everything that we could possibly include into our all-inclusive trips, within reason. Customers should expect to pay for nothing other than their shotgun shells ($11 or $13 depending on location), gratuities for good service ($30-$50 USD per day, per guest, prorated for half days), airport departure tax ($20 and impractical for our staff to pay) and dinner, drinks, and tips at restaurants in Buenos Aires, or Montevideo, or any other items of a personal nature that are not a usual part of a hunting package. However, dinner is included in the dinner/tango show combo in our All Inclusive Weekend Packages. Please contact us for exact details and a custom itinerary to fit the desired activities of your group and/or family.

Who will pick us up at the airport to begin our South American wingshooting trip?
You will be met by a Los Gauchos staff member immediately upon exiting customs in Argentina if you are not bringing a gun. If you are bringing a gun, our rep will meet you in the police sub-station loctated in baggage claim. He or she will have a large sign bearing the name of Los Gauchos, and the name of the group leader on it. Additionally, your final travel itinerary will list our representative’s name and cell phone number, in the even of an emergency. In Uruguay, you will be escorted by airport personnel directly from the door of the aircraft in a special van to the Carrasco Airport VIP lounge, where our staff will be waiting for you. In Uruguay, you won’t stand in line for immigration, your passport will expedited by the VIP Services Staff. You will transfer directly form the airport to the estancia. The estancia is 3.5 hours from the airport, and the Uruguay Duck Hunting Club is 4.0 hours, thus there is no time for shopping or city tours, unless you plan to arrive the day before—we recommend our a Los Gauchos All Inclusive Weekend for these guests. Montevideo has many excellent seafood restaurants, mom and pop stores selling anything and everything, and many casinos.

What if I wish to stay for a couple of days in Buenos Aires or Montevideo before or after my trip?
In addition to South American All-Inclusive hunting packages, Los Gauchos also offers all-inclusive weekend packages in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. These packages call Los Gauchos All Inclusive Weekends, include all ground transportation with one of our insured, bonded, and bilingual staff members, Tango Show with dinner, and after dinner drinks at some of the city’s best bars and Irish pubs. Please contact us for more information and we can customize this package to suit you.

What do I do all day in Buenos Aires if I arrive in the early AM, and do not wish to buy a an All Inclusive Weekend, but my flight to my hunting destination does not leave until the late afternoon?
Buenos Aires is a large city with many attractions, great restaurants, and shopping for leather goods, as well as fine clothing and accessories for men and women. Regardless of which trip you buy, all of out prices include city / shopping tours, and transportation to a restaurant for lunch if there is time. However if you are exhausted from your travels, a staff member will be happy to book a day room at a downtown hotel for you to take a nap, or schedule a massage.

What type of weather can I expect on my hunting trip?
If you are hunting waterfowl in South America, expect the weather to be very volatile. In these latitudes, it is not uncommon for the temperature to fluctuate between 30 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during a four day trip—and this is no exaggeration. Bring thermal underwear, full rain gear, and many layers of clothing to ensure that you are properly outfitted to the existing conditions. See our WHAT TO BRING list for a complete breakdown. For dove hunting in Cordoba, Argentina, please go to our Argentina Dove Hunting link for a table of monthly temperature ranges throughout the year. Current conditions are always available on our WEATHER link.

Is it a problem, or a hassle, to bring my own gun to either Argentina or Uruguay?
It depends. This is a very personal decision. Many of our clients bring their own every season, and will continue to no matter what. In 2005 they made up about 20%of our total clientele. The remainder decided for various reasons, not to bring their own gun. We suggest that you look at the following pros and cons very carefully before deciding which choice is right for you: Bringing your gun to Argentina is a lot more expensive than it used to be. First, Argentina has increased their gun permit prices over 65% in the last two years, even though their peso collapsed. Their money is now worth thirty-one cents on the dollar, but they decided to stick it to the visiting hunters. They now charge $100 per gun to bring your firearms into the country. Uruguay uses a formula, calculated as a UR unit, which changes with the fluctuation between the U.S. Dollar and the UY Peso. They have always charged high entry prices. If you wish to bring your firearms to either country the paperwork process on the South American side is actually easier than the U.S. re-entry—if one chooses to look at it from an investment of a “time spent standing around” standpoint (see the next FAQ for more info). Upon arrival in South America, you simply present the one-page form that we will have sent you in advance to the airport police. You then open your case in front of the only two police officers that issue gun permits at the airport, and they stamp and complete your paperwork. Finally, you pay $100 USD per gun (in cash at the airport), and you are on your way. The fee is actually 300 Argentine Pesos, which leaves you with about $10 USD change due back to you—but guess what?—they can’t make change. If you are traveling to Uruguay, you will experience very little waiting, and won’t have to leave a “tip” at the airport to get a gun permit.

How do I claim my guns upon arrival in Argentina and/or Uruguay?
In Argentina you will claim your gun cases with your regular checked baggage, and then proceed to the airport police station located next to customs. In Uruguay, our porters from the VIP lounge will bring your gun cases to the inspection area.

What could be the most time consuming part of the process with respect to traveling with a firearm to S. America?
Before you leave the USA one must complete a U.S. Customs Form 4457, which proves that you did not buy the guns in Argentina—therefore no taxes are due to Uncle Sam by you upon re-entry. Unfortunately, the Form 4457 must be completed in the presence of a US Customs officer. This means on one of your days off, you need to go to the airport, or a U.S. Customs Office, and have this done. Otherwise, plan to arrive at least four hours before your scheduled departure in order to have this verification accomplished. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait nearly an hour just to see an inspector that is “available” to help you. The good news is that once this Form 4457 is completed, it is valid for as long as you own the firearm, and need not be done ever again. The bad news is that we personally know hunters that blew off the requirement and had their guns confiscated by U.S. Customs at the airport until the hunter returned with a receipt or bill of sale proving that he indeed purchased the guns in the USA. This is bad news for you if your port of entry is Miami, and you live in Vegas… Here is the real humor of the whole situation: Do you know how U.S. Customs verifies the gun actually belongs to you when you show up at the airport to get your Form 4457? You guessed it! They don’t. And they don’t care. No proof of purchase, receipt, or license is required. You just show your ID and fill out a piece of paper, and presto! You are now the legal owner—in the eyes of US Customs. The guns could belong to anybody. We can only offer the following cliché, "There are only two certainties in life—death and taxes." Our advice to you is: Be Prepared and be Informed in order to protect yourself from the inconveniences and penalties of ignorant laws—its their country, their laws, and their jails.

How else can bringing my own gun run up the cost of my trip?
Don't forget that if you intend to bring a gun case on your trip, it counts as one of only two allowable checked bags, and if you meet the wrong ticket agent, the gun case can also cost you an extra $40 in “special handling fees” reserved for gun cases, surfboards, snow skis, and golf clubs. Even though it is only rarely enforced, it is a rule with most major carriers—so don’t be caught off guard if you get hit with it. For dove hunting you will be near the limit, and for waterfowl hunting you will certainly need all the space your two bag limit will afford you in order to pack all of the clothing and equipment necessary for your hunt: chest waders, heavy parkas, hunting boots, etc. The new airline baggage policies include an unbelievable 50 lbs per bag restriction!!! Anything over will cost you an additional $25 per bag until you reach 70lbs—then it is $100 dollars! And just in case you think you can beat the system by packing two large, lightweight duffels, they will nail you on a girth restriction if the bag is over 62 linear inches, that is an extra $100, and they will measure it. Guess what? If it is oversized, and over 50 lbs. you get to pay both! Be kind to yourself. Pack lightly. Laundry services are included at all of our lodges—and may be sent out for cleaning at hotels. If you just bring only what you need, and use our guns, you can save money.

What kinds of guns are available to me at no charge by Los Gauchos Outfitters?
All of our premium waterfowl destinations offer free use of 12ga Benelli m2 or Beretta 391 semi-autos in Uruguay duck hunting, various Italian over and unders in 20 ga. for dove, pigeon, and perdiz shooting in Western Uruguay, and nothing but Benelli m2 12 ga. In Argentina. We stock all interchangeable chokes. All of our guns are impeccably maintained, and none of them are ever more than a couple of years old. We guarantee that you will not be issued a low quality firearm at Los Gauchos.

Do you have any left-handed shotguns available?
We regret any inconvenience, but not at this time.

What gauge shotgun shells do you keep in stock? What shot size do you use?
We stock 12 and 20 gauge shells at our WATERFOWL HUNTING and UPLAND HUNTING destinations in the following shot sizes: 12 gauge: #1, #3, #5, and 7.5 and/or 8. 20 gauge: #5 and 7.5 or 8 only 28 gauge: please inquire; only # 7.5 or 8 is available 16 gauge: please inquire, only # 7.5 or 8 is available. 410 gauge: not available at waterfowl destinations Our dove hunting destinations stock ammunition for 12, 20, 28, and 410 is occasionally available on request. Our South American dove hunting lodges do not stock 16 gauge shotshells.

Can we bring our own ammunition?
No. Do not bring ammunition. Under new Argentine law it is illegal to bring shells into the country. One must purchase shells at an arms shop, or they must be sold to you by an outfitter. In Uruguay, it has always been illegal to bring shells into the country. Every one of our destinations will have the best duck hunting loads available, as well as the best light loads for dove, and upland bird hunting. We take no responsibility for ammo confiscations or, if you do not heed the advice and end up being detained for questioning by the authorities.

Do we have to use plugs in our shotguns?
No, plugs are never required while hunting in Argentina or Uruguay. We suggest you leave them at home. Just don’t forget to put them back in before hunting in the USA again!

How many guns can we bring?
You may bring a maximum, of 3 hunting shotguns to Argentina or Uruguay. The cost is $100 USD per gun—this price is subject to change by the Argentine or Uruguayan govt. at any time. All customers will be responsible for paying the current fee for their actual arrival date.

Why is waterfowl hunting in Uruguay and Argentina so good?
Both countries feature an A+ habitat for reproduction, with far fewer predators to bird ratio than in North America. Combine that with a limited hunting season, and very few hunters per capita, and the result is a bonanza of wildfowl.

What kinds of species are available?
Due to changes in the export laws in Argentina and Uruguay, the taxidermy program is suspended until further notice. These trips are a trophy collectors dream, and we are the only outfitter in South America that offers in-house, turnkey taxidermy services, and transport, for the following species: Uruguay duck species: Brazilian Ducks, Speckled Teal, Silver Teal, Ringed Teal, White-Faced Tree Ducks, Yellowbilled (Brown) Pintails, Rosybilled Pochards, and occasional Black-headed ducks, Chiloe Widgeon, and Red Shovelers. Argentina Waterfowl Species: Magellan Geese, Ashy Head Geese, Chiloe Widgeon, Yellowbilled (Brown) Pintails, Silver Teal, Speckled Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Rosybilled Pochards, Red Shovelers, and an occasional White-Cheeked Pintail. Upland species in Argentina and Uruguay: Tinamou, which is a partridge, locally called Perdiz. The Colorado, and Martineta are about the size of a sharptail, and the lesser Tinamou is slightly larger than a bobwhite quail. Wild Valley quail hunting is available in the Patagonia region of Argentina only.

How do I bring my birds home?
Due to changes in the export laws in Argentina and Uruguay, the taxidermy program is suspended until further notice. You may find a taxidermist that is licensed to import birds from outside of the USA and have him or her supply you with the necessary paperwork, or you may have us bring the birds back for you for a $50 per bird fee. Please remember that your birds will be inspected by U.S. Customs. We will not go there again…you know what to expect from them—there is no telling. I recently had them unwrap every single one of my twenty-eight birds that I declared, to look for illegal drugs—a process that took over an hour. Because U.S. Customs inspectors are not trained in bird identification, they often refer clients to an inspection by U.S. Fish and Wildlife upon arrival in the USA, to ensure that none of the birds are protected. Often, on early morning international arrivals, the waiting time is an hour or more before the Fish and Wildlife inspectors get to work. We do not discourage you to bring your own birds back, but we must remind our guests that opt to bring their own birds back to allow ample time to make a subsequent connection because inter-agency delays and SNAFUS with foreign birds are more common than not. We cannot be responsible for missed connections. One last reminder on bringing your birds back: the birds must be “properly packaged” in a cooler, which will count as an extra bag with the airlines, and subject to a $100 charge unless you only have one bag. Well-made plastic coolers such as Igloos and Coleman are difficult to find, and twice as expensive in South America. If you choose to take your own birds, we recommend you bring a cooler from the USA.

How many hunters can you accommodate, and how far is the drive from the estancia (lodge) to the hunting fields in Argentina and Uruguay?
We limit our occupancy to six guests per week in both our Argentina (double occupancy) and Uruguay (single-occupancy, or double occupancy options) waterfowl and upland hunting lodges. This six hunter limit is standard for non-private groups, and the lower number ensures a quality experience for mixed parties. For private parties, or corporate groups, we can easily accommodate up to eight guests per week. Typically, the drives to the hunting in Argentina are less than 40 minutes, but sometimes they can be up to an hour. We use comfortable SUV’s, quad-cab trucks, or vans to transport hunters. In Uruguay, our furthest blind is only 25 minutes from the house! In Uruguay, our furthest blind is only 25 minutes from the house!

How do you conduct your field shoots for geese in Argentina?
Depending on whether we are hunting in a sunflower field or a wheat field, we use Final Approach One-Shot chairs, and Ghille Suit-made field blankets, or Final Approach X-Lander coffin blinds for concealment. No other goose hunting outfitters in Argentina can match the quality of our decoys and field equipment. Please see the adjacent photo with our Hardcore, real-life, species specific full body decoys, and Final Approach ground blind. Our videos show how we hunt the geese. Note: The Benelli video was made back in 2003, two weeks before we bought the Final Approach blinds, and Hardcores, but I think you will see it made no difference to the geese that awesome day. Here is a factoid for you: by Benelli’s own choice, they had 7 guys in the spread for their video, and two cameramen with large beta cams above ground, as well as our full compliment of guides. All told, we had 13 guys in the spread, and you can see for yourself—no cover. We were just laying in a spread of 30 snow goose decoys…and it made no difference to the birds. Where in the world can you shoot geese with this kind of ease? Answer: nowhere else. Click here to see the Benelli American Safari goose hunting video with Los Gauchos.

How do you conduct your duck hunts in Argentina and Uruguay?
We use man-made cover as a blind when possible—see the photo directly next to this caption. They are the most comfortable, and with the use of a seat, provide the hunter with maximum swing. When natural cover is not available, we construct dry blinds made for two shooters—please see the adjacent photo. All of our duck hunts in Uruguay take place over decoys, and with the assistance of Labrador Retrievers—unless the customer wishes not to have them in the field for some reason.

How do you hunt the Perdiz?
We operate our Perdiz rigs with one dog, two shooters, and a dog handler. Please see our Uruguay Perdiz hunting video with Beretta to get a full education by master outdoorsman Chris Dorsey and shotgunning authority, Steve Smith—who is also the editor of the Retriever Journal and the Pointing Dog Journal. Click here if you have not already seen our Perdiz Hunting Video.

What separates a good waterfowl hunting day from a bad one?
Fortunately, for the comfort of our clients and our business, bad days are rare. However, the following factors can have an adverse effect on the outcome of a waterfowl hunt: Very high winds are probably the worst. The geese fly very little, and ducks seek protected slews, creeks, and canals, or simply can’t make the flight from the roost to the rice field. For Perdiz hunts, the birds become very jittery and hold very tightly, and the scent conditions are destroyed for the dog. Thick fog. If the geese can't see your decoys through thick fog, you won’t shoot high-volume that day. Migration conditions: If I may quote The Duck Commander, “Three things move waterfowl: large temperature changes (weather fronts), rain (water levels), and gunfire. Although, gunfire is not a player where we hunt, we cannot control the weather. The numbers of birds in our area vary occasionally, but we are normally always able to drive to an area that produces productive hunting for our guests. We must! after all, that is what keeps us in business.

What type of clothing and equipment do I need to bring? Do I need to bring chest waders for duck hunting?
Please see our WHAT TO BRING link for complete information on packing and to find some links to retailers who sell quality sporting equipment that is suitable for: duck hunting in Argentina, and duck hunting in Uruguay. They also sell all of the clothing and equipment you will need for upland hunting in Argentina and/or Uruguay. Chest waders are a must for duck hunting in Argentina and Uruguay. Even though we only have a few spots where hip boots won’t get the job done, they don’t work in those spots…and you will get wet and ruin your whole day of hunting if it is cold outside. Protect your investment by staying dry!

What is the schedule during a typical day at the Uruguay Duck Hunting Lodge?
We wake you up at 4:50 AM (earlier if you wish) and serve breakfast at 5:20AM. Depending on the time of the year, we are in the SUV on the way to the blind by 6:00AM. The drive to the duck blinds takes about 15 minutes. How about that? Our most distant duck blind from our single-occupancy lodge only 25 minute drive. This is some of the best duck hunting in the world, with the absolute shortest drive times of any duck hunting in South America. We stand by that. We suggest you ask our references how long they spent in a truck on this trip… The morning will be a high-volume duck shoot over decoys over top-notch AKC titled Labrador Retrievers—all Senior Hunters or better. Hunting over these dogs is pure pleasure and we guarantee that their capabilities are unmatched by any other bird hunting outfitters in Argentina, or Uruguay (if you can even find one that uses them, that is). We return to the estancia by about 11:00 AM for appetizers and refreshments. After lunch, hunters can take siestas, or just relax until the afternoon shoot. The PM shoot begins at about 3:00 PM and the hunters may opt for more ducks, or Perdiz over pointing dogs, followed by a short duck hunt (when in season: May 1 – July 31). We head back to the estancia at dark, and appetizers of freshly grilled duck, assorted cheeses, and premium drinks are on the table. A fine dinner follows, and of course many tales of the day’s take as well. Hunters will retire to single-occupancy rooms at El Sauce, all with brand new queen sized beds! All of the rooms have a private baths as well. Hunters at the Uruguay Duck Hunting Club will retire to single, or double occupancy rooms (based on reservation), with queens, or European doubles, as appropriate. Laundry services are available at no charge at both locations. This Uruguay Duck Hunting Club and El Sauce both offer the ultimate in international duck hunting. The only difference is that El Sauce offers single-occupancy rooms, and the Duck Club a mix of the two. El Sauce has the minimum drive times, the Duck Hunting Club drives are 30-45 mins—with a thirty minute average—and some as close as 5 minutes. Please contact us for questions about the differences between the two programs.

What is a typical day like at the Premium Argentina waterfowl and Upland Hunting Lodge? (Ducks, Geese, Doves, Pigeons, Perdiz)

This new luxurious lodge was built in a specific location in order to provide our clients with the ultimate mixed-bag experience. Our average drive to all hunting is 40 to 1 hour. We obviously travel the furthest for geese, because we don’t hunt them on water, and the have the longest migratory flight pattern. However, we hunt geese in fields that are 15 minutes from the lodge as well—thus the averages. Our duck hunting takes place on potholes and watershed lakes most of the time, but sometimes we hunt cut corn fields, which can be awesome. Our drive times to duck hunting are 25 minutes to an hour. In the afternoons we hunt roosts for doves and pigeons—or Perdiz. In the last two years, farmers have greatly increased their sunflower crops here, and the population of doves has exploded! In a region never known for good dove hunting, this is great news. The Golden Eared dove reproduces at breakneck speed (five hatches per year). There are no limits on dove or pigeons, and we were able to deliver our clients dove hunts averaging five boxes of shells per afternoon, per hunter in the 2006 season. Many shooters shot eight to ten boxes per afternoon on top days. See the adjacent photo for a look at this afternoon barrel-burner! Perdiz hunting is never a high-volume affair, nor should it be. These tasty white meat little gamers are not covey birds. They travel in singles and pairs, and prefer to run like Huns, rather than fly away from danger. They hold tight for a point under good conditions. Most shooters can expect twenty to twenty-five flushes per rig on good days and a few less on days with fair weather conditions. And as with any upland hunting, some fields, on some afternoons are hotter than others. It is not uncommon for one rig to come in with twenty birds, and one with ten. Some of that is shooting ability, and some is just…hunting.

Do we hunt Perdiz over bird hunting dogs?
Yes, pointers and setters in Argentina and Uruguay, we have a Brittany in Uruguay as well.

Can we bring our own bird hunting dogs?
Yes, you can. If you decide you wish to do this, contact us for instructions for your veterinarian. Since our waterfowl season is summer in the USA and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, there are some very important considerations for you to take into account before making the decision. It is very easy to get the dog into the country. However, the airlines are VERY restrictive about allowing a dog to travel if the forecast for you destination airport is going to be above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not for your early AM arrival in MIA, but for the whole day—in case your flights are late. You could get stuck in a terrible situation in which they deny travel to the pet, and then you are stuck in South America with the animal until the weather changes. Bringing your pet to South America is a high risk event. We do not recommend it for obvious reasons.

Will we have free access to the internet?
Most of our South American hunting lodges have free internet access. Please inquire about your particular destination. Hunting lodges in Uruguay do not.

If I am thinking about organizing a group for an Argentina hunting trip, or one of your Uruguay hunting trips, what is the most important thing to do to ensure a successful trip for myself and my friends and/or family?
As a group leader we ask that you be sure to share as much information about this trip as possible to the others in the party. Make sure that they understand the cancellation / refund policy, and are aware that they should purchase trip cancellation insurance in order to protect themselves from financial loss in the event that something unexpected comes along and interrupts their plans. We insist on speaking to every member of every one of our groups to ensure that their questions are answered to their satisfaction. What do I need to bring? What do I need to know about hunting in Argentina, or hunting in Uruguay? In addition, the following questions are nice to have answered by your outfitter, no matter whom you choose to book with: "My expectations of this trip are_________, what kind of feedback can you give me with regards to these expectations?" Are these realistic expectations? Do you as an agent or outfitter guarantee any set number of birds, or shot opportunities?

How much am I going to shoot? How many birds can I expect to kill?
The fact is, all Los Gauchos destinations offer HIGH VOLUME shooting for doves, ducks, geese, and/or pigeons. Our clients tell us that their expectations were met in over 90% of all cases for waterfowl and upland hunting, and 99% of the time for dove hunting. How do things go wrong on these types of trips? What can I do to ensure my trip will be a positive and successful experience? There is nothing worse for sportsmen, or later, for outfitters alike, not to have 100% of their questions answered satisfactorily before a single penny is invested. Far and away, the Number One Disaster that befalls traveling sportsmen every year is the inability to travel unexpectedly—for whatever reason. Those who fail to protect themselves by purchasing trip cancellation insurance often find it painful to learn that their outfitter cannot just stick them in his schedule next season. For example, waterfowl hunting outfitters in South America that are worth their salt all operate at or near 100% occupancy due to the short seasons and the infeasibility of being able to provide a quality hunting experience to more than 6-8 guests per week. Therefore, any cancellation by a client and subsequent refund by the outfitter results in permanent lost revenue for the outfitter—especially when it occurs on short notice. When a client purchases trip cancellation insurance, he protects his investment. It is not expensive, but well worth it when needed.

How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?
The cost of the insurance is a function of your age (since medical conditions are the number one reason for cancellations), and how much the trip costs. Typically 5% of the total trip cost will come close.

Where are the closest medical facilities to the lodge?
Hospitals that offer A-plus rated medical doctors (ER physicians and surgeons) and facilities are located within one hour and thirty minutes from all of our destinations in Argentina, and two hours in Uruguay. Local hospitals with medical doctors (and all common medications) are located within thirty minutes of all destinations.