Blackbuck and axis deer

Argentina is well known for its successful small game; nevertheless, it is an excellent destination for big game hunters. Whether practiced through stalking, still-hunting or on horseback, big game hunting in Argentina usually takes place in marvelous surroundings and immense areas. Some species are endemic whereas others were imported many centuries ago.

The most widely used calibers are 7RM, 300WM, 300 and 8x68S. Blackbuck and axis deer hunting is organized in several properties identified each year to recover trophies. These areas stretch from the Northern area of Buenos Aires to the North part of the county, where some of the most beautiful specimens live.

These excursions are organized upon request. Hunters depart from La Huerta (our property) or from Buenos Aires, and they may enroll in an additional small game hunting program. Animals are hunted through stalking and with an escorting guide. In order to catch these games, we recommend hunting during the first and last hours of the day. The blackbuck is frequently shot from long distances (between 490 to 650 feet, or even more).

The axis deer is also hunted at dawn or dusk. Its spotted fur allows it to camouflage quite well with its surroundings. This animal weights 330 pounds and is not as big as the European deer. The best season begins in March and ends in late April. They start to lose their antlers in June.

Red deer

The red deer is the equivalent to the European élaphe deer. Argentina is a particularly favorable place for the development of great trophies, which may range from 13 to 22 pounds. Hunting is carried out on foot in the steppes or on horseback when the method chosen is stalking through the immense woods surrounding the Andes, one of the most spectacular scenarios in the world. This is where we intend to hunt this “red-haired” deer, during its rutting season in March.

The steppe hunting takes place until late March. It is easier to identify this species once the rutting season has ended. Do not get the wrong idea: there are plenty of red deer in this area, since they do not need to live in woods as one may imagine. They can also find their food and shelter in a seeming desert steppe, but in fact a very rich habitat, full of small hollows with high grasses that are appropriate for deer. San Carlos de Bariloche in the Neuquen province is, undoubtedly, one of the best hunting areas. There is a well-known freshwater reserve near Villa La Angostura, located at a three-hour distance by plane, south from Buenos Aires. This hunting area requires to be physically fit, as any other hunting area located near the mountains, like Scotland or the Carpathians.

cougar, brocket deer, red deer, boar

Pumas, which belong to the same family as the North American cougar, usually attack herds of rams and goats that belong to stockbreeders living in the lowlands in the South of Argentina or in the immense forests of the North, in Formosa Province.
This type of hunting requires great training and accurate location. Pumas are extremely intelligent and distrustful animals; they generally move around during the night covering long distances. Consequently, hunting takes place after the animal has been identified. We track the animal using the same method as for deer or boars; then the staff organizes an “attack” with dogs in order to find it. After the dogs are released, the puma inevitably seeks shelter at the top of a tree, like a cat, to escape from dogs. Usually it is impossible for the dogs to harm the puma, since they are much smaller and weaker. But that is nature.

The hunting will continue on horseback most of the time, moving through diverse biotypes such as small forests with bushes and wet palm groves with clearings where goats, cows and brocket deer find shelter. This represents food and an ideal biotype for the puma.

The final approach is carried out very quickly on foot, after hearing the barking of the dogs, or instructed by one of our guides, who may escort you for prevention purposes. You will have to shoot as if you were aiming at an African leopard, i.e., the animal will be on top of a tree and from a distance of about 130 feet, or less if the jungle is too thick. In this region, pumas may weight up to 220 pounds.
For stalking, there are stations (huts) with baiting places and salteries where you will be able to wait for the animals. For still-hunting, there are different areas per specie where you will find plenty of preys. This ensures a great possibility of success.
We also have one area intended for breeding, which guarantees the quality of the trophies. In addition, we have other areas destined for the protection of indigenous species.

White-lipped peccary, collared peccary, capybara, Asian wild buffalo

They are hunted through stalking and still-hunting, during the morning or at night, near water areas. For this purpose, we have a unique territory – a jungle of over 62 miles, which surrounds a marsh of 215 miles long and 6 miles wide. In fact, this is a permanent enormous “wallow”, where several groups of fifty animals arrive looking for company. We also organize this unusual type of hunting in Formosa province. The capybara can weight up to 155 pounds and feeds itself during the night eating grass and reeds only. It can be hunted in flooded marshes, where you can access by canoe, using a 7x64 caliber or its equivalent or with riffle bullets. Capybara hunting is only authorized where we organize it, in Formosa.