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Los Chanares article, Skeet Shooting Review July 2009

“The trip was great! Alex and his staff were very professional and Los Chanares is a warm and delightful lodge on a beautiful estancia. Food, accommodations, and the dove shooting are truly world class. Thanks for your part in making it a very special trip.”
B. Holland

“Thank you! Your smooth operation in Argentina cut through most of the frustrating “strangeness,” language barriers and other hasseling details after a long flight. And then…a WONDERFUL shooting experience and some of the finest cuisine I’ve ever enjoyed. I have already begun recruiting some local friends to join me next fall via your services…”
J. Barrow

Throughout the years, Northern Cordoba in Argentina has earned the reputation of being one of the highest volume dove-shooting destinations in the world. This is greatly due to a specific area where all the right elements have come together.

“Located in the center of this region, two thousand acres of hills are densely covered with bushes called “Chanares.” These thick bushes have become the favorite habitat for doves where they can nest in all security, protected from their natural predators. It has been estimated that more than 20 million birds roost in these nests and the population keeps on growing with each bi-annual reproduction.

Surrounding these nesting grounds, thousands of acres of cultivated farmland furrowed with many streams provide all the necessary food, water and reason to fly. Just imagine, for as far as your eyes can see, millions of birds covering the sky, relentlessly flying over head all day long. So impressed by this sight and the unsurpassed quality of shooting provided, Serge Dompierre, an avid Canadian wingshooter who has experienced a great number of the most renowned bird shooting destinations of the world, decided to develop a hunting estate unlike any other.

He, therefore, set out to purchase the land and build the necessary facilities. Not only should the estate provide unparalleled shooting to a select few hunters (twelve per trip), but also the lodging facilities should be highly luxurious and conveniently located to avoid the usual unnecessary traveling to and from the hunting grounds. The result is “Estancia Los Chanares.”

Conveniently located 60 miles from the Cordoba international airport, Estancia Los Chanares owns over 95% (10,000 acres) of all the farmland comprising the major dove nesting and hunting area for which the northern region of Cordoba is known. The 8,000 acres of farmland surrounding the 2,000 acres of nesting grounds have been parceled out into 18 huge hunting areas interlaced with corn and sorghum fields.

The vast choice of different landscapes offers shooting to please any category of shooter. Some fields provide an abundance of low birds, which are constantly passing within 15 to 25 yards of the shooters. In some others, positioned between two mountains, even the most experienced shooter will find the high-flying birds challenging and at the outmost range of a shotgun.

However, what all these fields have in common is that they all provide an overwhelming quantity and quality of wild birds, flying constantly, non-stop, all day long. Enthusiastic hunters can easily shoot a case of shells per hour. Even though the overwhelming quantity of doves is considered a plague in the area, as they can destroy a whole crop in just a few hours, we have carefully developed a game-management program. Contrary to the practice of many others, the roosting nesting grounds are never hunted, nor are the streams where the birds go to drink. We also plant many fields with the dove’s favorite cereals to keep them on the property. We offer, at extra cost, excellent pigeon shooting over decoys.

The five-star lodging facilities are as exceptional as the hunting conditions. Recently completed, this picturesque European flavored South-American style lodge offers all the modern amenities in sumptuous yet cozy surroundings. Decorated with refinement, each of the nine bedrooms exhibits a superb collection of hunting and fishing scenes. An open-hearth fireplace, which comes in handy during the mild winter months, dominates the luxurious living room. Each bedroom has its own fireplace, heating system, bathroom, powder room and two comfortable beds.

Aside from offering the best dove shooting in the world in the most luxurious surroundings, the whole concept behind Estancia Los Chanares is to procure the most relaxing stay for you, with no aggravations. To achieve this goal, the lodge was built in the middle of the property. Three of the hunting fields are within a few minutes walking distance and the 15 others are reached in 5 to 10 minutes in our modern, comfortable 4×4 vehicles.

This arrangement completely eliminates those never-ending, hour-plus long and tiring bus rides that all the other Cordoba hunting destinations unavoidably have to make you endure every morning and evening. It is no longer necessary to get up in the early hours of the morning and rush through a breakfast to make it in time for the painful bus excursion.

You now have just about all the flexibility to hunt or relax at your own pace without having to follow a rigid schedule normally imposed to accommodate a group. Even some of the most enthusiastic shooters may elect to stay behind and wake up late then slowly enjoy a wonderful breakfast before being driven to the shooting grounds. They will still get to shoot a case or two of shells before coming back to lunch at the lodge.

After savoring a delightful meal, some shooters may prefer to take a siesta, go for a refreshing dip in the swimming pool or for a ride on one of our 40 horses. Even if they sunbathe until five o’clock, by the time the sun sets, they can shoot more rounds than most shoulders can handle while the other outfitters and their guests are driving-back to their far out lodge.