Argentina is great! Go! Some thoughts -
- I much prefer the mixed bag hunts. The rub is that Cordoba (which most associate with high-volume dove) does not generally offer duck hunting. While I have shot high-volume dove in Cordoba and it was great, I was more than happy with the volume of dove at other locations (500 shells in an afternoon) that also offered perdiz, pigeon, and ducks.
- In terms of pricing, count on ~ $1000/day. Dove hunts can appear cheaper, but if you shoot a lot, your ammo bill will more than make up for the savings compared to a duck hunt for example. Ammo is typically $10-$15/box. I'm not sure any of the outfitters are inherently much cheaper than others. "Tipping" will also add to the bill and is often not highlighted in the advertisements.
- Guns: Every trip before the last one, I traveled with multiple guns. This last one I rented guns from the estancia. I could go either way in the future, but would lean toward renting. If you are comfortable with the fit of Beretta/Benelli O/Us and autos, I'd save myself the hassle and rent. If you are hunting ducks, you will already have a lot of gear with you. Slogging through customs with an extra gun case or two can be a real pain. Many of the estancias offer a range of rental options including sub gauges.
Happy to talk more offline.
Ken
