Yo, Lorenzo !!! Yup, I made it back yesterday .. tried to make a reply and my computer went down .. Hmmmm? I tried to add a grumpy face icon here but I'm not sure where it will end up ??? The trip back was almost a disaster going through Miami... Everyone in transit had to go through interviews that lasted at least 10 minutes ... (folks timed them), our luggage was hauled back out, shoes x rayed and in my case sprayed having been in hunting country, and finally I had to run the entire length of the airport to make it to my next flight .. In transit ... not even entering the country ... two hours between flights nearly was not enough time ... My goodness ... Anyways, back to that wonderful hunting trip .... it was a fabulous time .. Both my partner George and I have done a lot of hunting in far off places so really had something to judge it by .. We were met by Lorenzo at customs, he snaffled us up, took us over for the hunting licenses and in a few minutes we were in his land rover heading out of Montevideo for the 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive to our first destination.. This was in the province of Durazna where they had this huge house all set up and waiting for us .. A couple of fireplaces burning, a kudu head on the wall ... rifles on the wall ... a cook, a maid, and their helper were on hand to run the house .. The food was fantastic .. from appetizers to the main courses to the chocolate found near our beds each evening .. beside the bottled water ... (By the way, the water is safe to drink out there ...) I never pay attention to houses .. but I loved this one immediately .. very grand, indeed...
I am one of these guys who like to experience all different kinds of hunting .. and I told that to Lorenzo before hand ... and so we did .. Doves are the most well known game bird in those parts .. at one time .. in a bit less than 90 minutes I shot 500 rounds at doves and their several varieties of wild pigeons ... When I quit shooting ... it wasn't because the flight had lessened ...
We spent several evenings, around sundown, shooting ducks as they came into a pond .. Although not large ducks like our Northern Canadian mallards ... they looked like geese compared to those jet propelled doves !!! The first evening I knocked down a dozen in thirty minutes and did not wish to be anywhere else in the world ...
We hunted perdiz over a fancy pointing dog .. its amigo was a bit under the weather at the time .. I had never hunted them before but shall again. While Lorenzo supplied us with Bernellis for the doves .. we were given a couple of high quality over and under shotguns for the perdiz... I must admit that the man has fine guns at his disposable... We did not take our own as there wasn't enough time to get the clearance from the Americans .. And if we had I am sure that I would have missed my flight from Miami to Dallas while they checked them out .. (The officials were fine ... just had an aggravating (in my opinion) job mandated to them ... )
There were South American ostriches in the area .. we hunted European hares ... again an animal that I had never seen or hunted before .. I have now done that - and eaten them too !! And they were delicious ... Also nutria, gray foxes, and of all things .. parrots .. Little green chaps with blue wings ... there are so many and cause so much crop damage .. that farmers have to let gov't guys onto their land to poison them !!!
And of course, I am a big game hunter ... and even though time was short .. I asked Lorenzo if we could try for those fierce Russian wild boars and the free ranging axis deer ... Now when folks come up here to Alberta to hunt white tails .. they come for 6 days .. we were trying to do everything in 6 days ..
The wild boars are hunted by a bunch of chaps who use dogs because of the heavy cover .. and besides either a shotgun or a rifle .. most carry a very big knife ... yup, a real big knife in case they can get a chance to use it .. I think I'm pretty damn macho 'cause I shave ... Ha! That is not exactly an equal to these fellows .. George had whacked a young boar with two great running shots .. (don't expect a standing target !!! unless you decide to shoot a tree, or something ...) and I had taken a shot at another pig who had vamoosed back into the heavy cover .. I was sure I had gotten it ... but my elation turned to the darkest despair when all we could find was a big patch of hair .. Grrrrrrrr! I told the men later that if it didn't bother me .. I wouldn't hunt ... Anyways ... shortly after the dogs caught up with a big sow in the thick stuff .. one dog was gored through her face... a man was bit by a dog in the meelee, another dog, Sacha was badly injured and was said to be dying .. I'm not sure if the goring was from the sow or a pancho (big boar) ...One chap leaped on the pig (from behind, of course) and killed it with his knife ... If a dog had let go he would have been chopped to pieces in split seconds ... My freaking goodness !!! A couple of days later one of the fellows phoned Lorenzo and told him that he had just found my bullet in the sow as he was cutting her up .. So that was why she had slowed enough to let the dogs catch her .. I went over and petted the heavily bandaged Satcha as she was laying quietly on the ground... And over supper that night I proposed a toast with that excellent Uruguayan red wine - to the fierce fighting dog, Satcha.. (By the way, Satcha's son was killed by a pancho on May 18th) (Also, by the way, they phoned the next day to tell us that the hound was going to live ...
After several days of shooting birds ... I burned up a couple of cases with very little effort, we packed up and motored to the Province of Soriano to the little town of Dolores .. In Spanish, Dolores means, 'pain'... I told the folks that I know several other lady's names that meant the same ! Here we were going to hunt axis deer with a fabulous bunch of fellows .. men in their thirties that meet every Saturday and hunt axis deer and pigs with their (slightly smaller) pack of hounds .. Guys with names like Pancho, and The Gaucho .. Everyone was so nice ... tried so hard to help a couple of grizzled Canucks have a good time .. The assistant guide's name is Mario .. about 30 .. and with a fabulous sense of humour .. we laughed non stop all week ... !!! These guys live to hunt ... probably like most guys reading this saga ... I have never met nicer people .. anywhere .. Mario's lady, who is a nurse, did the cooking for us here .. along with the help of her sister .. Very nice ladies and drop dead gorgeous!!! I asked Mario how an ugly guy like himself could have such a pretty girl friend ??? We got a nasty rain storm about then, and even though we had a bunch of really soggy men and dogs .. and a few sightings .. the axis deer could not be taken .. How do I sum it up ??? The best of food, the best of accomodations, enough shooting to burn up the barrel of a shotgun I have little doubt ... and the nicest of companions .. People told me before I went that Uruguay was a nice little country .. (Heck, in Dolores they don't even lock their cars or houses .. ) I agree with the assessment of the country ... and add that the people are endearing ...very sweet, and when the staff is tipped, and they walk out of your life forever .. the lady will walk up to you, turn her head to the side, and you kiss her cheek ... What a lovely lovely custom ... what a lovely land .. what a lovely time we had ...
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