25 March 2018, 22:32
Tim HeraldArgentina Red Stag - Free Range - lots of photos
I just returned from 2 stag hunts in Argentina.
The first, I was in Cordoba. Very rugged and rocky terrain with almost no trees. The good thing here is that if stags are not roaring, you can still find them. The basic package here is for a free range stag up to 320", but you can upgrade.
The stags were roaring early and late, so you could find them pretty easily. Getting a good shot was a bit tougher in the open terrain.
I ended up taking a very nice 10x10 stag that was measured at 353. Another client killed an absolute monster, that ended up at 394. He had his two sons with him and they took hight 290" hype stage. One other hunter in took a super heavy 376". I think the sis truly a top end destination for a big free range stag. The 320" package is $6050 during the roar, and they have a winter special of $4250/each if you hunt 2x1. So a really great price for quality hunting. The lodge was nice, food incredible, and people ultra friendly.
View from the deck of lodge. There are trout in the stream
Rugged but beautiful terrain
My 353
The giant 394
After that, I met 4 friends in Patagonia, and we hunted there. This place has both free range and estate hunting. I chose the free range. The rut was really going on and roaring stags were all over. We got lucky, and they told us to shoot cull stags for management, and it would only cost $50/tag. We all killed a number of culls.
This is also open ground, so you can glass stags if they are not roaring. The roar lasts longer in Patagonia due to cooler temps, etc. So it can last 6 weeks.
We had a few guys shoot big estate stags. I shot a really heavy free-range stag. I wanted mass, and I couldn't pass this one, when he was chasing hinds round I a swampy area below me. I love his dark antlers and mass.
Some of the culls would have been trophies at places I have been in LaPampa. Great lodge, food and staff here as well.
Beautiful country
Here is a cull I shot
My heavy trophy stag
A couple more culls
Group photo...I left a day early and the guys still had a day left. We had a bowhunter kill what will be the #5 free range archery stag as well.
Both of these hunts are pretty well full for the roar in 2019 and booking for 2020. Again, it is great that you an go to either place in May-July and still kill stags even when they are not roaring. I can't wait to go back.
26 March 2018, 18:41
bwanamrmLooks like a great hunt Tim. Amazed that that rocky open country is in Cordoba... I always think of it as flat brushy, agricultural type land more suited for bird hunting.
26 March 2018, 23:00
JeffreyPhDLove the heavy mass on the Patagonia stag. I assume it's the norm to rent a rifle while there?
27 March 2018, 00:47
Tim HeraldRussell,
About 4 hours out of the city, it got pretty darn hilly and open with some huge lakes.
Jeffrey- It has become really hard to take your own guns to Argentina. Both places the guns were OK, so no issue.
12 April 2018, 02:56
GracedogSome of those stags are of a quality that I thought were only available in New Zealand, and some old world estates. It's enough to make me rethink hunting in Argentina.