What time of the year should I come?
There are 3 seasons to the “Dove Year”, as the birds react to seasonal changes in weather and availability to food and water. As with any wild hunt, these factors can vary, and as such, may affect the timing of the different seasons. Throughout the year doves are in search of food and water, it is vital for them to have access to it within a short range of our main roosts and transitional roosts. In years with unstable weather, which may affect these factors, the traditional movement of our dove can change. Doves react to these changes and we do too.
At David Denies we are prepared for these natural changes, and for this reason, we are in continuous geographical growth to provide comfort in daily logistics as well as the quality and quantity of doves you will enjoy during your hunt. Our daily logistics begins with our main scout who goes out to check the expansive area we hunt, and then once we are in the field, the other 3 scouts check the area near where we are hunting. This makes it possible to obtain valuable information that is then analyzed by our head guides.
The head guides are seasoned, professional hunters who take the birds’ movements into consideration and decide on the best possible hunting locations, prioritizing the quality and quantity of doves. The decision also takes into consideration the length of driving required to reach the field, but always with the mission of providing you with the best possible dove shooting experience.
The following calendar separates the year into 3 seasons, and each section highlights perfect times for hunting. All of this information is based upon traditional data compiled over our 20 years of hunting the area. Weather and other factors may affect the date ranges and drive times listed.
“The Harvest Season” – Mid-March to Mid-July
Weather: This is our autumn and mid-winter, and while we can have some rain in March, April, and early May it’s rarely more than three to four days of rain per month. Then our dry season begins.
Doves: During “The Harvest” period we find a high concentration of low-flying birds feeding or in temporary roosts. We can see high birds depending on the wind and how far we’re located from the feeding or roosting areas. The main reason the birds fly this way at this time of year is because they’re following combines that are harvesting sorghum, sunflower, soybean, and corn. During this time of year, we also shoot feedlots and water holes where the birds gather to eat and drink.
Driving distances: 5 to 70 minutes
Pigeons: Starting mid-April, pigeons start to concentrate in good numbers as they need to feed and get ready to pass the winter. We hunt on some feed-lots as well as on the fields where sorghum have mature grains. When hunting pigeons, we spend the day at the field, having lunch right there, not returning to the lodge. Normally the first pigeon hunts for the season are very good ones, as pigeons are very hungry coming from months where there is not much food around and hunting pressure is none-existent. Starting mid-June, with the winter approaching and first cold fronts, pigeons start to fly a little bit later in the day; so, it is normally to hunt those starting mid-morning all the way until late afternoon. Numbers are good during the entire “Harvest” season.
* Note – During May, June and July, hunters have the possibility (if water levels are good) to hunt ducks, instead of pigeons. If water levels are good, SGO del Estero lodge offers some excellent duck hunts on the marshes that inhabit the region, very close to the lodge.
Driving distances: 20 to 70 minutes
“The Roost Season” – Mid-July to November 1
Weather: This season includes the end of winter & most of the entire spring. For the end of winter and most of the spring, we experience mild temps and blue skies carrying easterly winds; this is part of our “Dry” season with beautiful days and temperatures in the range 60 to 90F.
Doves: This time of the year doves start to nest on the closer roosts to the Lodge. As they roost we find them in great numbers on the fly-ways close to the roosts. Excellent season for high-volume doves. The volume depends mostly on weather and wind; although almost any given day hunters will see huge flocks of flocks of doves.
Driving distances: 20 to 45 minutes
Pigeons: As the harvest of grains comes to an end, this is the perfect time to set the decoys on the grain stubbles and shoot decoying pigeons. Fantastic time of the year to shoot pigeons both in numbers and style. We keep on going to the fields for the entire day when hunting pigeons, having a traditional Argentina barbecue at the fields.
Driving distances: 15 to 60 minutes
“The Summer Season” – November to Mid-March
Weather: This season includes the end of the spring and the summer. This is the warmest time of the year with temperatures going from 75 to 100+F. This season is also the rainy season, and although we don’t have a lot of rain, occasional tropical rains can happen during your stay; normally strong and short rains. Days are longer ones, so during this time of the year we return to the lodge for lunch, pool and siesta!
Doves: This is the time of the year for a big volume of birds. Dove numbers increase as we go from the spring into the summer. Doves are congregated in the dove roosts and feed steadily and in huge numbers. We also hunt on flyways where doves are looking for water. For those that can support warm weather, we shoot early in the morning and late in the afternoon, returning to the lodge for lunch, pool and siesta. Best time of the year for volume of birds and drive time.
Driving distances: 5 to 35 minutes
Pigeons: Off season for Pigeons
