I've been doing a bit of looking at hunting in Nicaragua lately. I'm mostly interested in the duck shooting and possibly some tarpon fishing. Anybody have any experience there?

Bwanna
I've been down there 3 or 4 times with a group of 12 fellow Virginians hunting ducks and doves.
I've enjoyed the experience every time.
Trek is the outfit, Richard and his brother are the guides. The food is great, the beer is grand and the rum is perfect. Our group found the accomodations, the bird boys, etc everything we could ask for.

Jim

Thanks arkypete. They are one of the companies I have been researching. Do you mainly hunt blue wing teals or have you commonly shot other varieties? How many birds would you normally shoot an outing? I'm looking at putting this together for a group of friends for a winter getaway.

Bwana

We shoot the Blue Wing Teal and two types of doves. Occasionally we get a Brown duck, it's a big fat lumbering bird.
We were shooting 25 or 35 ducks per shooter. I've got pics of the front of the air boat being right full of ducks.
The wet lands are surrounded by volcanoes, photo opportunities are good and smoking volcano makes a nice back stop for the hunters pics.
Bring some insect repellant.

Jim

Some friends of mine went a few years ago with trek, they shot BWT and whistling ducks, said it was a great trip and everything was top notch.

That sounds like some pretty good action. I was looking at another outfit and they listed a bunch of species that they hunt in a similar area.

What time of year have you went?

Thanks Patricio.

Bwana
Our group goes shortly after Thanksgiving.

jim

How does the place rate for safety? I've heard it's rather dangerous.

Would there be any advantage over a Uruguay, excepting to have a new spot to try?

Shack
It's a two hour flight to Managua.

Safety?
If you are referring to the hunting it's as safe as any place.
If you are referring to the political environment, you are going a third world nation with Marxists running it. The Marxists like the Gringos dollars and the Trek folks know who needs to have their palms greased.
The citizens, the lower levels of officialdom are polite to pleased to see the Gringos.
Other then the airport at Managua, customs, you'll have no contact with the central government.
The stores prefer that you spend US dollars and you will receive your change in native coinage. I left the coinage in the room for the maids as well as some dollars.

Jim

Interesting thread. I have been looking at that hunt for February. I shoot ducks here until the end of Jan. I have been to Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Uruguay, Columbia, and will be in Bolivia in Sept. all with Trek and have been very satisfied with their outfitters. I can highly recommend them. They have been doing South and Central America for over 30 years.

I wonder if some of the other species start to roll in later in the season. Thanksgiving is in whitetail season up here so I can't go then ha!

Begno, have you done the fishing trips with Trek in all of those countries?

Fished Panama with them--Hooked on Panama lodge for Marlin, Sails, Roosters, etc
Fished Costa Rica also, Rio Parismina Lodge for Tarpon.

I would go back with both.
I will be fishing in Bolivia on a cast and blast for Peacock bass for 3 days and shooting doves for 3 days.

Hunted in Uruguay, Columbia, Honduras---doves

I didn't know that you could hunt in Columbia. I work with a Columbian fellow and he has invited me to go there with him the next time he visits home. Not sure if I want to take up the offer or not though...or if my schedule will allow.

Colombia was a fantastic dove shooting destination, out of Cali, in the 80s, but it shut down with the hostilities that were going on, and the Colombian outfitters moved to Bolivia, Paraguay, and a few to Argentina. I'm not sure Colombia has any outfitters operating there now, but the country is safer now.

I have been fortunate to shoot birds in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico and Nicaragua. I do not know of any lodge open in Colombia now. If there is one, I would probably avoid it and I go there for work and to visit family quite often.

By far, the best place to visit and shoot is Argentina. The lodges in Argentina have their logistics down to a science and you can find a hunt to meet most any budget or luxury taste. Uruguay offers the same level support and it is more laid back to get around in.

A friend of mine just returned from Bolivia. He and I had worked and lived there for several years and enjoyed some fantastic hunting. He said the crime is out of control now. I am sure you would be at a lower risk being escorted by the lodge but that threat would definitely lower your ability to enjoy the country or do any sight seeing. However, the lodges are very good and so is the shooting. I got a kick out of an outfitter at the DSC recommending $50 a day tip to the bird boys. Seriously?! The minimum wage is less than $100 a month!

Nicaragua has rampant crime and like all unstable countries, things could get bad real quick. Something to keep in mind if you want to take family with you. However, it is close and less expensive. I spent quite a bit of time working demining operations in Nicaragua after hurricane Mitch and found the country and people to be absolutely lovely.

Paraguay is a great country to visit and shoot in and there are direct flights out of Miami to Asuncion now. The lodges there do not have the same level of logistical support (yet) that is the standard in Argentina and Uruguay.

You see the news about Mexico. Traveler beware but I feel very safe when I am there with friends.

Having worked and shot in all of these places, the order I would place them in for all around enjoyment, shooting, safety, etc.,: Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Bolivia. I could mix the order of the last four based on a current, reliable threat analysis.

That's just my opinion based on my travels and hunting experiences.

I did a little quickie research using the state dept's website on each of several south and central American countries, including the hunting and some non-hunting countries and clicked on the "crime" category for each.

Care to guess the results?

They are ALL bad. And some really awful. With the only difference being the degree. And there's a trend in the last several years of them getting worse.

So, when I get around to going (which I want to) I'm thinking limit it to Argentina and Uruguay (Uruguay reportedly has the least crime in Latin America) based on the reports and even in those stick to the hunting areas that are known to be safe and avoid the big urban situations.

Btw, Nicaragua is considered not as bad as its next door neighbor, Honduras, which is said to be profoundly terrible.

Here are just a few - http://travel.state.gov/travel...s/cis_997.html#crime - http://travel.state.gov/travel...s/cis_985.html#crime

I'm not sure that crime is an issue. The outfitter looks out for the client and the different levels of government like the cash coming into the economy.
Now if my wife and I decided to go visit all by ourselves I suspect that it would be a problem.

Jim

I would watch my back and keep my wallet secure if I was to go there but I don't think I would worry any more than if I was in Africa or central/western Asia. Outfitters know they won't have any business if a client gets into dangerous situations regarding locals. I'm just doing a bit of research on where to go for birds (mostly waterfowl) with the possibility of fishing for a group of friends and I...these Saskatchewan winters get pretty long and cold and some warm weather shooting would be nice. Thanks for all the input so far guys.

Part of the concern about the crime is non-hunting related. In the case of Uruguay I'd actually like to see Montevideo and the country generally. It has a certain old world European look and feel about it that I like. I'm also interested in this sort of thing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgGLc11DlAM

I also have some interest in its history with the Graf Spee. I understand parts of the ship are still visible above water in the mouth of the River Plate. I think they're busy raising it.

Anyway, I'd like to see the country but not get in trouble doing it...

I can see your concerns then. I'm sure there are companies that could safely arrange some of those things for you. Just a matter of finding them ha.

if anyone makes it to mexico city, you guys are welcome as my guests, and I will guaranty your safety.....

Id you can't get a real cuban cigar, the Nicaraguan ones are a fine second choice...

For the folks who have been with Trek in Nicaragua, do they rent shotguns or is it strictly bring your own?

Thanks,

Tim

quote:

Originally posted by TimZ:
For the folks who have been with Trek in Nicaragua, do they rent shotguns or is it strictly bring your own?

Thanks,

Tim

Tim

I've always taken my own but I've not hunted down there for several years. I've seen in the lititure that Richard and his brother are now renting shotguns.
Keep in mind that the Sandinistas are in charge down there. The Otega brothers are communists, have little love for gringos, their money yes, and like all communists they really don't like guns in anybody's hands other then thier own.

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE HUNTING.

jim