This time, my 2009 rut was a different one ...

A friend of mine asked me to scout a large area he owns (around 40,000 acres some 1500 feet above sea level), so as to verify the possible existance of red deers - with the idea of organizing a hunting lodge in the nearby future if so...

So there I went, to an area located around the Foyel River (outside the south east limit of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, Patagonia, in between Bariloche and El Bolson)

Actually I found some tracks, many of them indeed promising ones - but only of in passing stags, since I ultimately found that there was no stable population of females that would make them stay there at rut time (as it happens with all animal species )

Even worst, the rut was non existant there by the time I went, meaning that with only five days to spend scouting I would need a great amount of luck to find a trophy (which ultimately wasn´t my case, I did have have some young deers at the end of my scope, which I didn´t shoot due their short age and rather promising future) but although no female population could be found there, it seems that it is a rather good winter territory for stags - so by July I might give myself a second chance !

The result: no hunt for me this rut - but a great ride high in the mountains, climbing hills with slopes of almost 60° of inclination - ascending, descending and scouting almost all day long - hunting ! - in a very beautiful and pretty demanding place ...

Camp Site




Refuge high in the mountain, where I spent the night when it was too dark & risky to return to camp site

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Going to the probable hunting zone... notice the very narrow path we had to ride through in order to reach the zone to be scouted






Initiating scouting

Scenarios














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Beautiful country and good looking horse.

Some more pics...

Some tracks... cartridge is a 7RM






and some more pics

Nice trip Martin and nice pictures.

Martin ,incredible photos ,i love the PATAGONIA mountains,i use to hunt there from 18 to 30 years old,with members of my wife family that lived there.Very difficult to see the red stag in the woodlands ,i remember long walks and climbing in PASO CORDOBA,HUA HUM,AND another places that i dont remember,we hunted too near the HUECHULAUQUEN lake,with my cousin GONZALO,ill return this winterto hunt in the snow when the stags are lower ,but without rut.
Hunting with horses is real marvelous ,you know i love them ,thanks for sharing with us this expedition and i wait you for hunting buffalos and boars my friend.Juan

What a wonderful country. Thank you very much for sharing.

Yes, thanks for sharing your photos.

Thank you for sharing the photos.
The area is very BEAUTIFUL!

Beautiful pictures, why no saddles on the horses out of curiousity?

Thank you for your comments !

quote:

Originally posted by martinbns:
Beautiful pictures, why no saddles on the horses out of curiousity?

Actually these are much more comfortable than the classic leather saddles (IMHO ), they are call "recados" and are quite traditional here in Argentina, pretty much as the ones used by the "gauchos" in the XVIII century to nowadays... Indeed my horse`s recado was pretty worn (and still very comfortable, my butt can tell you: I spent almost eight hours per day during six days on it - and during four nights it was my pillow! ) - but in good looking condition I can assure they are an example of practicality and beauty !