re: Argentina Combo Hunt

No problem, senor. I believe we worked with a gentleman named Diego when we booked, but it was a few years ago.

When I say "damn cold", I mean it was damn cold for down there. There was frost that morning and I packed for more the 45-50 degree weather. So, mid 30's made worse by taking a surprise swim made it damn cold.

We always spend a day or two on either side in BA. Great city. +1 for Don Julios steakhouse. There is another one called Cabana Las Lilas in Puerto Maduro that is fantastic too and its in a great part of town with good drink spots after dinner. I can't overemphasize how great the beef is in that part of the world and the wine is even better. The urban legend is that Argentina doesn't export its best wines (so they tell the gringos anyway). There are really good wine stores downtown that cater to American's flying back to the states and get your wines packed up to be checked on your flight home.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out Nicky New York's in the Palermo area. It is a very unassuming sushi restaurant, not much bigger than maybe DiGulio Brothers in BR. That said, after your meal you tell the waiter you want to see the "wine cellar" and they take you in the back and pull a secret lever and the wall opens into this really cool speak easy bar with great cocktails. Imagine sitting in a small, quiet restaurant and not knowing that behind a wall was a bar the size of The Varsity with dozens of people in it. So if you get two dinners in BA, I recommend doing one steakhouse and then Nicky New Yorks. If you do it on the back end of your trip, you'll be sick of steak by then anyway. You'll want to make a reservation.

I had a dish at Piegari that was phenomenal. Merluza Negra. It is absolutely decadent. Hope you have a wonderful trip. Don’t worry about the doves. You can’t scratch a dent in them!

Just got back on the 7th and wanted to provide an update as promised.

Estancia La Criolla is an excellent place to hunt. Located in the Santa Fe province so not the SUPER high volume you get in Cordoba but seemed to me to be a much better experience. Family run estancia and is an actual 10,000 acre working farm. The owner and his dad grew up there and he lives there most of the year. Had lunch and dinner with him every day. Beautiful accommodations, unbelievable food and wine and the mixed bag hunting was top notch. 3 hunters shot around 1600-1700 doves in 5 hunts, limit of 60 ducks (20 ea) in 1 hunt, and 6 quail (little slower) in 1 hunt and had a great time fishing Dorado and Pirhana.

BA was great. Stayed at the Hotel Club Frances recommended by the outfitter. Great location in the Recoleta area and the service was great. Ate at Piegari and Fogon Asado from recs on this board and both were great. Have to say enjoyed the Fogon Asado experience a little more.

All in all, a great experience and highly recommend La Criolla. Already trying to figure out a way to go back next year.

what does something like what you did cost per person? plane tickets, hunting, ammo, hotel, etc?

Almost forgot airport transfers in BA. Those run $50-80 so maybe another $200-300.

Thanks. That's not too bad. I was thinking it was about twice that.

All these doves you shoot, i assume they stay with the outfitter? You can't take any meat home right?

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All these doves you shoot, i assume they stay with the outfitter? You can't take any meat home right?

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Correct. Can't transport meat from other countries.

Yes in that district. I believe it was Negroni restaurant.

It's the most fun I've had bird hunting.

We did a mixed bag outside of gualeguay last week. Shells were 15 a box and we were allowed to shoot 4 boxes for the duck hunts with a 25 duck limit per person. We shot more than 25 at each of the 4 hunts. There didn't seem to be as many Dove this trip (I was there in March of last year) but it was still fun. I've never seen so many ducks in my life. The ducks were decoying while the blind was being set up.

All in with flights, tips and transportation it was 9k a hunter. We also stayed in BA for 2 days. That was another 1200 or so.

The year before I bid on a trip for 2 hunters at a CCA auction and won it for $2400. It covered the lodging, gun rental,etc. That trip was much cheaper so consider it a good option.

Anyone ever heard of Pointer Outfitters? If so anything you can share? A buddy won a trip there through a charity raffle just looking for some info and reviews.