This time, we decided to bait in six different areas in an effort to concentrate the pigeon population where we want. This strategy can be highly effective.
THOSE WHO KNOW PIGEONS WILL AGRERE, THIS IS NOT SHOOTING BUT HUNTING. IT’S SIMPLE, PIGEONS ARE SMART. AND TO BE EFFECTIVE REQUIRES AN INTELLIGENT APPROACH. SO FAR WE’VE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS. ALL OF OUR GROUPS ARE ACHIEVING THEIR LIMITS.
WEATHER IS ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR. HOT WEATHER AND LOTS OF WATER MAKE PIGEON HUNTING MORE CHALENGING. HIGH AND ABUNDANT WATER MEANS THEY WILL NOT CONCENTRATE IN SPECIFIC WATER HOLES. WHILE HIGHER TEMPERATURE MAKE THE BIRDS FLY EARLIER THAN USUAL.
FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF OUR 2014 SEASON, WE TARGETED ALFALFA FIELDS, FEEDLOTS BETWEN OLIVE TREES, AND THE USUAL FLYWAYS. SO FAR THE NUMBER OF PIGEONS IS ABUNDANT AND THEY’RE “FRIENDLY”—OFTEN DIVING INTO OUR DECOYS. THIS BEHAVIOR COULD CHANGE AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES. WE PROVIDE DIFERENT GAUGES AND SHELL LOADS. SOME SHOOTERS PREFER 12-GAUGE, 28-GRAM #7 SHOTS; OTHERS CHOOSE A #5, WITH 32-GRAM LOADS. MY PREFERENCE IS A 20-BORE #7 SHOT WHEN WE SHOOT IN BLINDS WITH DECOYS AND 20-GAUGES WITH #5 SHOTS WHEN WE SHOOT IN FLYWAYS. OUR RENTAL GUNS INCLUDE 20-GAUGES: NEW WINCHESTER SEMIAUTOMATIC, BERETTAS 391S, AND BERETTA O/U SILVER PIGEONS. IN 12-GAUGE: BERETTA SILVER PIGEONS O/U. AND IN SEMIS: BENELLIS. IN 28-GAUGE OPTIONS WE HAVE BROWNING HUNTERS O/U. FOR PIGEONS, I RECOMMEND THAT HUNTERS WEAR CAMOFLAGE GEAR, ESPECIALLY LATER IN THE SEASON.
MONTARAZ IS THE OLDEST LODGE IN ARGENTINA, BUILT BY THE JESUITS IN 1702. IT’S LOADED WITH HISTORY. WE KEPT THE MAIN STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO PRESERVE ITS SOUL, BUT PUMP COMFORT INTO THE MIX WITH NEW BEDS, A NEW KITCHEN, BETER HOT WATER, INTERNET ACCESS, AND A MASSAGE ROOM. IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN THE HISTORY OF HOW ARGENTINE ESTANCIAS WERE BUILT. WE HAVE TEN ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATHROMS, A CHAPEL, AN UNDERGROUND WINERY, ASADO FOR BABACUES, A TENNIS COURT, AND SWIMMING POOL. NONSHOOTING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HORSEBACK RIDING, GOLF, AND BIRDWATCHING.
Picture Gallery