Hey there, I'm a die hard high-country Mule deer hunter from WA, USA and I plan on visiting Argentina and Bolivia (where my best friend lives in Santa Cruz) this August. I've read the S.A. big game posts over the years but have had nothing worth while to contribute. After reading Joe Cavanaugh's "Jungle Hunter" I really have an urge to go hunting in S.A. I've lived and hunted in south africa before and I'm currently working on my master's in Resource Management here in the States and as can be imagined; I'm not wht you call rich but I'll take out a loan to hunt or fish new destinations. It seems that Juan is "the man" here and maybe he or someone else would be willing to through me a bone here. I would love to fish for Peacock Bass and/or whatever else as well as hunt for native big game. Tropical whitetail, peccary, brocket deer, are all high on my "wish list". So far, my buddy in Santa Cruz says he knows some local hunters that will take me hunting for "deer"(they said they need pictures as to what species I'm talking about). Does anyone know the legalities of hunting in Bolivia (especially exporting sport hunted trophies). I plan on "renting" a rifle as I'm don't want to travel with firearms even if it is legal (which it probably isn't). Any suggestions? I saw a flyer the other day for tropical whitetails and red/brown brocket deer in Ecuador but nothing on Bolivia. Juan, if you read this, could you PM me any info? thank you all very much in advance.
-Jared Valenta

Jared,
As anyone has answer you yet I will give you my opinion.

Bolivia and Argentina are quite different and if you want to visit both countries you must organize it separately.

First go with your bolivian friends and go with the flow, hunt and fish whatever you can.

As far I know there are no peacock bass in Argentina. I have fished them succesfully in the Amazon.

Obviously you will find them in the most tropical part of Bolivia. Hunt there whatever is possible but I am not sure about taking trophies to the States, just take pictures and keep your travel easy.

For brocket deer and peccary (javelina) you can hunt in northern Argentina, also good dorado fishing there, specially on the higher Bermejo river. I will reccomend you getting in contact with some serious american outfitter, they have the local guides (as Juan) for specific areas.

Tell them what you want and they will be able to help you.

Also talk to Juan and see what he can offer you, it seems he also works with a man named Alberto Forrester who seems quite knowledgable and that has arrenged a trip to the Chaco for another AR member (Steve Graves)a few months ago.

Talk to Steve also, he has been around northern Argentina for a while so he has some experience that will be valuable for you.

I reccomend you to go with a friend, it will be more enjoyable and you will always have someone you can trust if things don't work as planned.

Good luck
Lorenzo

Thank you very much Lorenzo. You don't know how much I appreciate the advice. My wife is doing one of those study abroad programs in Buenos Aires starting this July and we will both be graduated at the same time so I planned on hunting/fishing in Arg. before I meet up with her (she hunts/fish's with me on occasions but can't stand how obsessed I am with hunting so she says don't even talk to her about it this time) and travel for 3 weeks in Arg., then I'm flying to Bolivia to see the country/visit for 3 weeks and then hunt/fish with some local boys (I'm sure it will be interesting to say the least.) I've done hunts in foreign countries that I'm not sure were "by the books" and I can say that true adventure is what you make for yourself. My "dream game" would be a respectable swamp deer, but like you said, I should just do as the Romans do...
I watched that "Hunt for Big Fish" show with Larry Dahlberg (sic?) for peacock bass, wolfish, and golden dorado in S.A. and all I can say is please let me experience that some day.
If anyone out there thinks that doing a tropical whitetail hunt in Ecuador would be better than something in Arg. please let me know. I would love to experience the wingshooting as it is Mecca but as it is, it takes me a full box of shells to get my limit of seven ducks here in Washington, so I think the wingshooting might have to wait until I can get some professional help. However, I don't know the upland/waterfowl seasons so since I will be there in Aug.-Sept. I would definetly pay for a day or two of shooting if it is available where I'm big game/fishing. I just wouldn't want to take a loan out so my guides can watch me miss birds (my brother does the watching and laughing up here). Thanks again and I will do some serious research as it is now a for sure trip, rather than just a possibility. I physically train year-round for deer hunting so an extremely physical hunt in the Andes would be right up my alley (but probably will only remain in my dreams).

If you are going to be in Buenos Aires, send me a PM and I'll make a few suggestions. A few of our friends on this site live in Buenos Aires and Lorenzo is very close....across the river in Uruguay. You should chat with Nainital and Afrikaander as well.

Hi Bill,
Let me know next time you travel south, you must vist Uruguay at least for a couple of days.

It doesn't has the great landscapes from Argentina but we are MUCH more civilized

L

Lorenzo. It is definitly in my plans. I arrive in Cordoba on March 26 and leave April 26. We will coordinate when time gets closer.

Jared: swamp deer hunting in Argentina is forbidden and considered a serious crime, period. Fines are very heavy and jail is also in the game. We don´t have native whitetails (albeit some were imported for decorative reasons as parks animals).
Instead we have the majestic red stag, which you should study in depth.
Last but not least, I don´t agree with Lorenzo: Uruguay has beatiful landscapes, that is, the Argentine girls at Punta del Este.

Thanks again everyone who has contributed here. I read through all the archives and it does seem that the swamp deer are protected in Argentina. Is this a continent-wide blanket protection status, or is there a way to hunt them in Bolivia without being repeatedly raped in a squalid prison cell?

I'm thinking that if the hunting season is open in Aug-Sept. I will try to locate an outfit that might be able to provide a combo brocket/peccary/waterfowl hunt with fishing for non-salmonoids (I fish for salmon/trout/steelhead up here religiously) as an option after the hunt. Does a particular outfitter come to anyone's mind? I'm signing up for some shotgun shooting lessions this week in order to reverse my bad shooting habits. I'm excited to say the least and will be sure to share photos/story on the forum here upon my return.

After rereading my first post it seems that my wording could have been a bit more accurate. I didn't mean that I'm willing to poach rare animals; I hate poachers and put them right up there with child molesters (can u say death sentence for serious, repeat offenders). What I meant was that I'm willing to camp out without luxury accommodations. In South Africa it was illegal to hunt without a PH but that is indeed what we did and it was the most intense experience of my life: my brother and I got dropped off in the middle of 200,000 arces in the Trans-Kalahari with shotguns, rifles, and provisions for a week and were told to shoot whatever we wanted and they would check up on us every other day to pickup meat. That experience changed my life and I don't consider it poaching when the only legality you are breaking is not making the PHASA guys richer. But don't anyone worry, they got their share of my US currency in the Eastern Cape!

A long shot, but after 10+ hours of internet searching I couldn't come up with a single fishing outfit in Bolivia. Suggestions? I will be going with the locals and plan on bring down some nice gear (shimano calcutta reel, G-loomis travel rob with assorted big topwater plugs, rapalas, etc.)but as can be imagined, that might turn out to be a total sham. I just have no way of knowing so I want a booked-professional trip to insure some success.

If anyone has ideas, pictures, stories, or pdf. brochures they can email me at: jvalenta99@yahoo.com

Jared: perhaps you may find useful this info. I know nothing about Bolivia, by the way a quite unstable country nowadays.
FISHING IN SALTA

Salta Adventure Travel & Tours ...

Salta's geographical variety offers travellers an ample range of possibilities for practicing fishing; and among them, three catching areas stand out: the Bermejo, the Juramento and the Pilcomayo River basins.

8 to 12 kilograms of weight dorados can be caught in the rushing waters; in calmer waters there is no shortage of bass, Surubí catfish, Pacú and shads; and in the high mountain areas, rainbow trout. The diversity of these rivers offers the chance to practice different fishing ways, such as fly, spindle and bait fishing

The Río Bermejo River
It is best to hire specialized guides for fishing excursions in this area, because they are carried out around the large and imposing Bermejo River and all of its tributaries. Located in the Baritú National Park area, north of Salta, the starting point for fishing excursions is the city of San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, 250 kilometres away from Salta.

There are programmes operated on dates chosen by those who decide to undertake the excursion, previous confirmation, and their length depends on the activities of alternative tourism they want to enjoy, on the distances to travel and on the places to visit; They usually oscillate between one and four days.

This activity is realized with the philosophy of preserving nature and its resources by practicing the "Catch and Release" of the species caught. From April through the last days of October, always respecting the needed permits and when the waters are at optimum conditions of clarity and transparency, fly fishing, using streamers, can be practiced; or spinning, where usually 30 grams undulating scoops are used; as well as fishing with natural bait.

The Río Juramento River
Embracing an important surface at the south-centre of the Salta Province, it originates at the Cobra Corral reservoir, a place chosen by sport fishermen from Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán, owing to its stock of diverse species: the sweet water atherine, the most appreciated from the sports point of view, the tararira (Hoplias malabarious), catfish, so called bocachas, moharra, shads and eels.

Other infrastructure works offered by the Rio Juramento River along its run are: Peñas Blancas, Miraflores and El Tunal, the latter of a smaller size than the Cobra Corral Reservoir, but with a singular beauty as well, and where catfish, bocacha, bream, tararira, moharra, dorados and sweet water atherine can be caught.

The Río Pilcomayo River
Located northeast of the Salta region, it is an important tributary of the Paraguay River's water system. It constitutes an important egg laying and nourishment place for species such as shads, pacú, dorados, Surubí catfish, bream, etc., among many more. Rainbow trout, catfish and sweet water atherine can be captured at the lakes and rivers of the Calchaquí valleys.

The Complejo Pulares Complex
It has a privileged location 50 kilometres away from Salta, close to Chicona, for being in the mid sector of the Tilián stream's valley. The scenery displayed on its surroundings is an invitation to enjoy a day in the countryside.

The complex is specially for families and groups of friends, who may want to enjoy it any time of the year for there is no closed season, besides, short walks through the ravine containing the Tilián stream, whose banks are carpeted with ferns, lichens and orchids, can be arranged.

It has three sectors: the first one with a dining room, camping areas with tables and benches, and playgrounds for children; the second one holds the fattening pools for rainbow trout, a place where there is also specialized personnel to explain the technical management of this fishing preserve; the third sector contains two artificial lakes filled with spill waters where you can keep what you catch without releasing.

Fishing is practiced in different ways such as fly; spindle and even natural bait fishing. The complex provides with all that is necessary and offers a personalized attention. The place is ideal for women and children practicing the sport.

The institution that rules and regulates sport fishing in all of its area is the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Provincia (Provincial Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development), which, through its Fishing Resources Programme, delineates the reserve zones, defines the open and close seasons, decides which species are susceptible of extracting, the ways of fishing, which arts and capturing gear are allowed and which forbidden, and measurements and limits for the equipment used.

OTHER PLACES

Las Lomitas and Campo Alegre
January, February, May, June, July, November and December are open season.

Cobra Corral
It is open season all year round, except from the Península del Zapallar up to the Río Guachipas River mouth beginning the 08/01 and ending the 11/30.

El Tunal
It is open season starting the 1st of March up to the 4th of November.

Rivers
Open season lasts from the 1st of March until the 4th of November on the Lavayén, Pescado, Bermejo, Teuco, San Francisco, Dorado, Pilcomayo and Del Valle Rivers. Sport fishing in the Río Juramento River can only be practiced between the Ruta Nacional Nº 34's highway bridge and the Santiago del Estero limits.


FISHING IN JUJUY

Jujuy Adventure Travel & Tours ...

In the Province of Jujuy, the variety of climates and altitudes has allowed for the evolution of a very variable fresh water population of fish, from the most common species to the salmon family, including rainbow, brown and lake trout.

This state of things offers the traveller the opportunity to practise both kind of fishing in the same expedition, given the time and always carrying the necessary gear and equipment with him.

In principle, the high and medium altitude fishing in the mountains is circumscribed to the mentioned rout species, as well as the perch or Criollo trout, which in reality is a fish totally different from the salmon family, a sort of living fossil, which some scientists relate to the family sciaenides, a vast family which includes the corvine, and supposedly these fish were from a salt water habitat and became accustomed to fresh water conditions when the Andes were formed.

Both this so-called perch as well as the trout are very sought after by those fishermen that only use artificial lures. A third kind is the fresh water atherine, which was introduced in great numbers in most of the flood dikes and dams in the Province, and which have produced individuals of great size, due to the abundance of photo- and zoo-plankton in these habitats.

The lowest area, which corresponds to the last foothills of the pre Andean mountain range in the woodland in the east, is destined to shore fishing. Here on can fish dorados, bream, and different species of catfish weighing up to two kilos.

A variant that is of interest to many lovers of this sport is angling for dorados, in the eastern part of the Province, using artificial flies, in the Lavayén and San Francisco rivers. Dorados weighing up to 10 kilos have been caught here in the area, which has given rise to an almost endless stream of fishermen coming here all year round, only interrupted by the rainy months.

As with hunting, sport fishing is regulated in the whole Province, and you will need a permit and its corresponding zone licence, which you can apply for at the Natural Resources Bureau - Dirección de Recursos Naturales for the area.

Regarding nautical sports, such as windsurf, water ski, sailing, etc., these can be practised on the water surfaces of the dikes and dams of the Province. We can only mention the Dique La Ciénaga and the Las Maderas complex, places where you can also go angling for trout, atherines and catfish.

FISHING AREAS
There are three different hydrographical basins:

* The Río Bermejo River Basin.
* The Río Pilcomayo River Basin.
* Cuenca endorreica de la Puna.

For further details regarding where to catch trout, please take note of the following areas:

Area Puna-Gorge: the rivers Santa Catalina, Grande de San Juan Orosmayo, Paicone, Cusi-Cusi, Yavi, Barrios and the Laguna Leandro Lake.

Valley areas: The rivers Yala, Lozano, Reyes, Guerrero, Tesorero, Lamzal, La Quesera, Tiraxi, Tilquiza, Las Escaleras, Las Capillas, Los Morados, Paños and the Laguna Chañi Lake.

The Andean slopes: The rivers Totorillas, Trementinal, Normenta, Ranger, Catalpe, Valle Grande, Colorado, Yerba Buena, Sunchal, Santa Rosa and Pampichuela.

Good luck and let us know further developments.

Yes, Yes, Yes.! Thank you sooo much; this is exactly the info I've looking for and unable to find. If I can ever help anyone out visiting here in Washington, just let me know. If it swims, fly's or runs I'm chasing it (and I've gotten pretty good at it too!)
Do you run an outfit nainital, or do you just know the program?

And yes I know Bolivia is unstable. My best friend from high school did a study abroad program there about ten years ago, fell in love (A women and the country) and never came back (I have quite a few friends who fell in love in South America, He's just the only one to stay there). He teaches at a prestigious private school and owns/operates a popular pizzeria in Santa Cruz. He says that while it can be dangerous like everywhere else, in ten years he has never had a problem (he also lives behind a gated community that is patrolled by armed guards).

Jared. It looks like one of the chaps I was going to direct you to in Buenos Aires found you. Ricardo is a walking tourist guide and he can also take you to see some good Tango shows and a few fine parilla restaurants.

Ricardo....take him to the Recoleta and show him the space for my tomb. Bring a sharp knife and an appetite for beef.

Jared: Bill says that in jest. I´m just an amateur and don´t run an outfit. Anyway I´ll be glad to meet another AR member and show him the few things I know about Buenos Aires, the most beautiful city in South America (take that, Lorenzo).

Bill: My grandmother occupied the last place in our familiar tomb in Recoleta thus I fear not being able to put you there (or that you´ll be able to put me there, if such is the case).

While I've read these forums religiously for years, this is the first time I've ever put in any thought to adding to a discussion, so I really consider myself new to the forums. First off I would like to say that I love reading the stories, photos, and advice on accuratereloading more than anything else. You have a special community here (I'm speaking about most of the people on all of the topics) and I really have a tough time putting into words how reading of the members adventures has dramatically changed my life. Since I first found this site, I have checked the asia, africa, South America, and rest of the world forums at least every three days for the last few years. Some people in their twenties play video games and go out to the bar until 3 AM. I'm up at 3 AM because I can't sleep because I read someone's hunting report in Asia and I'm dreaming that it could be me one day. I would also like to apologize for the rant; I have no one in my life that will even listen to me talk about my dreams of hunting overseas. It's funny you know, my Dad and Bro live to hunt but they live to hunt in the same state that they have hunted all their lives and could care less about hunting in Africa or anywhere else for that matter. There are people on here that I look up to and idolize like a little league baseball player idolizes Babe Ruth. I really hope that I someday get to meet and maybe even hunt with some of the people who contribute to this site. I am a field survey archaeologist here in Eastern Washington and I feel lucky to get paid to hike around in the outdoors looking for artifacts but I really respect and am jealous of the PH's out there who live and breath it.


I called up my taxidermist and it seems that swamp deer or not legally hunted anywhere in South America and the only native big game trophy importable to the US is some areas of tropical whitetail and brown brocket deer. I was surprised to learn that none of the subspecies of South American peccary are importable. I did end up getting the contact for whitetails in Ecuador (which if I remember correct ran about 4K for a week hunt, predominately out of blinds and some still hunting) and am waiting a return call with terms and conditions. Funny thing is that I would never hunt out of a blind in the States but I pay for the priviledge overseas. I know the brocket deer looks pretty dimunitive in comparison to a red stag but it's not the size of the antlers, its' the memory of the hunt and habitat that make trophies special to me. Maybe some day the powers that be will realize the benefits of sustainable conservation and rebuild populations of the South American native cervids to huntable numbers, which usually is the only way to ensure the survival of the species by giving locals financial incentive not to poach the last ones out of existence ( a real long shot I know). If someones wondering from my earlier posts if I will shoot 'whatever" I can while in Bolivia the answer is no. First of all, the Lacy act is pretty harsh and ignorance is no excuse. On the other hand, I have a tough time following laws that protect animals that became protected because non-hunters think they look pretty, rather than protection being granted on biological reasoning I wish I didn't sound so naive in my earlier posts but it seemed like a great place to start researching something I know nothing about. Does anybody remember the outfit that Boddington and some industry guys went with for tropical whitetail a couple years ago? I did find a duck/dove/fishing combo package in Bolivia and am looking into it. I will post stories and photos when I get back, whatever and wherever I end up hunting.

Nainatal made a good point by suggesting that I look into a red stag hunt. For some reason, it really doesn't appeal to me to organize a trip for exotic (e.g. non-native) game. I in no way think there is anything wrong with people who do and I understand and respect why they enjoy it. If I was given an opportunity to shoot a red stag in South America as a guest for free I would and I'm sure it could be a great trip. However, if I really wanted to hunt red stag I would try to hunt them in Europe. I spent the last couple days thinking about why this is the way I feel and the more I thought about it, the less it made sense to me. I wouldn't want to hunt an exotic big game animals but I don't differentiate between native and reintroduced; such as many of the plainsgame species in South African Game farms (when I hunted there I only wanted to hunt game native to that particular local). The Rocky Mountain elk I have spent my life pursuing were once eradicated from Washington and had to be reintroduced from Yellowstone Park (close to a hundred years ago). On the other hand, I love to hunt pheasant, partridge, and quail where I live: they are all introduced for hunting but for some reason it doesn't detract from the mental prestige that I give them. Another thing about red stag is that its not only cheaper to hunt them in Arg./New Zealand. but the country in which you hunt the exotic form is more wild and hands down more beautiful. I don't get it but that's the way I feel.

Thanks again for setting me straight and getting me on the right track. I'm so excited that I had to getting prescription sleeping pills so I can get this trip off my mind for a few hours out of the day. What will be really crazy is my 2 week long blind date with the local Bolivian hunters; I figure the worst thing that could happen (from a hunting standpoint that is) is that I'll whack and stack some rodents and not much else. Which still sounds like a lot of fun. The more I thought about it the more I realize that I would really like to do at least 2 days of duck hunting in Argentina. As I said before I'm not that great of a shot but I absolutely love it. A couple weeks ago I had problems with the birds flaring because I was shaking so bad with excitement that the whole blind shook! Now that's ridiculous.

quote:

Originally posted by nainital:
Jared: Bill says that in jest. I´m just an amateur and don´t run an outfit. Anyway I´ll be glad to meet another AR member and show him the few things I know about Buenos Aires, the most beautiful city in South America (take that, Lorenzo).

Bill: My grandmother occupied the last place in our familiar tomb in Recoleta thus I fear not being able to put you there (or that you´ll be able to put me there, if such is the case).

Jest? Dare I jest on such an important subject? Ricardo may not run a tourist agency, but he knows the country well and makes a splendid guide in BA.

Ricardo, with all modesty, I don't want to be in your family tomb, I want my own. In marble and bronze, with statues of trophy animals and a poster sized picture of me inside with my cuchillo, my Bowen revolver, and my right foot on the carcass of a giant jabili. Outside, over the entrance will be a bronze plaque announcing that "Acqui este El Judio Errante, El Furtivo del Mundo."