The $1000.00 a day figure is fairly close to use as a good average price point. But it may fall short when you do the math on all the little things which will surely be there.
I went to Argentina for my first time last year and had a ball. So much so that I'm all signed up and going again in June.
Here's the way things are lined up this year and the costs so far. I will be going on a six day shoot for doves & pigeons. The package price for the six day hunt will be $4050.00 excluding airfare. The package seems expensive on the surface compared to others that are avalible, until you break it down. In the price of this package is included 4000 rounds of 20ga ammunition. Then after you have used this up, additional 20ga will be $12.00 a box. From my experience last year I shot between 900 to 1200 rounds per day and felt very comfortable at these numbers. I could have shot more, but chose not. So this year I'm planning on the last two days of the shoot. The ammo costs will be on me. I'm budgeting another $1500.00 just for ammo above that supplied in the package.
You then need to figure in tip's to the field staff and the estancia staff @ another $300.00 to $500.00. Add this all up and the in country trip will be approximately $6000.00 for six days of shooting.
I've already bought my plane tickets to fly round trip from Denver to Cordoba via-Santiago & cost right at $1500.00 Now add this to the trip and the total is $7500.00 which works out to a $1250.00 per day cost for the actual time spent in Argentina.
The best advice I can offer is to make sure you know you can afford the trip. Don't just look at the outfitters package and then add airfare. Then justify in your mind "thats not to bad a price, I can do this". If you do you'll be short changing yourself when you get down there. As stated by others "The ammo is where the profit margin is for the outfitters". They know that the avreage guest will "AMP-Out" on the bird numbers and shoot away like crazy. I've talked to guy's that have had seven and eight thousand dollar ammunition bills on thier trips down there. Be sure to budget for the unexpected and keep in mind that the outfitter possibly may not take credit cards for these expenses. Ask about payment meathods before you go.
The other hidden costs are gun permits will be $100.00 for each gun you take. Last year Argentina added an entrance visa fee on Americans of $320.00 if I remember correctly & had to be paid when you go through customs. But this Visa is good for eight years, so it's a one time cost that will cover several trips.
Another cost to consider is gun cost. Most outfitters are now charging $50.00 to $75.00 a day to rent a gun that has seen one heck of a lot of ammo run through it. If you go this route figure the costs into your budget and be prepared to shoot thousands of rounds through a gun that might not fit you correctly and could beat the crap out of you. If you decide to take your own gun, you may want to purchase one just for doing this trip, if you don't already have one that can stand up to the task. If your thinking that my old trusty Remington 1100 will do just fine, you better think again. The 1100 is a great gun, but it more than likely will fail and let you down on an Argentina dove shoot. For auto-loaders the Benelli's & Beretta's hold their own, in O/U the Beretta's, Rizzini B's, & Guerini's will do the trick. The main thing is to shoot the gun a bunch before you go and make sure it fit's you correctly.
My take is this.
I put off doing an Argentina dove hunt for several years because I couldn't justify in my mind the costs of doing one. Now that I've done one. I recommend to anyone that loves wing shooting that they owe it to themself to do it at least once.
Life is a gift enjoy all the pleasures of life you can afford.
It's a short ride.
