Pica Zuro Lodge

Season

All year round

Getting There

Córdoba, Argentina

The Hunting

From blinds

Upon arrival at Pica Zuro Lodge, you will be immediately transported back in time. This stately 19th-century compound is centered around the authentic Argentine-style Estancia which will become a “home away from home for you during your stay but do not be fooled by the historic appearance of the lodge, for at its heart lies a modern launchpad for dove hunters. Our flagship dove hunting venue, Pica Zuro Lodge, is perfectly positioned to reach hundreds of private access shooting locations within minutes. These hillsides and agricultural fields are home to millions of eared doves which fill the skies in spectacular numbers. At the lodge, you will be treated to a culinary adventure as well, our skilled chefs assure that meals are fit for a king, as they bring together cutting-edge modern techniques, with traditional Argentine flavors.

Why Choose Pica Zuro Lodge?

Live like royalty in the dove hunter's kingdom

When you arrive at the swinging gate outside Pica Zuro, you’ll proceed up the winding drive and sense at once that the lodge has had time to settle and amass ambiance. Things look comfortable here, the palm trees frame the open-air porches as linen curtains sway in the gentle breeze. There’s a feeling of old-world elegance that starts outdoors and extends throughout each and every room of the estancia. 

The lodge houses a large traditional dining room adjacent to a comfortable sitting room with a nearby bar. The recreation room offers a billiards table, with a sitting area and bar. There is also a gun cleaning room and 2 masseuse rooms. After the hunt, you can also enjoy time in the swimming pool, spa with dry sauna and jacuzzi, or just relax in the sitting area aside from one of our inviting fire pits.

  • Capacity: 12 guns.
  • Accommodations: 5 twin rooms and 5 single rooms, each with a private bathroom.
  • Wi-Fi Internet access, Satellite telephone, and satellite TV.
  • A gourmet dining experience each day, with Argentina’s famed beef and fine wines, traditional Asados (BBQ), fresh-baked bread, and delicious desserts.
  • Maid and laundry service.
  • The gift shop offers local artwork and crafts, logo wear, and accessories.
  • Gun rental, with a selection of fine over and under and semiautomatic shotguns, from Beretta, Benelli, Browning & others.
  • Professional, experienced hunting guides and field assistants.
  • Comfortable Mercedes Benz Vans.
  • Historical tours, shopping trips, and horseback riding (optional).

What time of the year should I come?

We often get asked ”What is the best time to dove hunt in Argentina?”. Dove hunting in Córdoba, Argentina does not have specific seasons but rather depends on the behavior of the doves themselves. Throughout the year, doves are in search of food and water, which is vital for them to have easy access to. However, this behavior can vary depending on the location, the weather, and other environmental factors.

In Córdoba, there are numerous locations where you can hunt doves at any time, including sunflower fields, feedlots, hills, flats, waterholes, and roosts. The choice of location will depend on the behavior of the doves, and while some locations may be more productive during certain times of the year, you can hunt in any of these locations year-round.

At David Denies, we understand the importance of staying ahead of the doves’ movements to provide the best possible hunting experience. Our scouts regularly monitor the expansive areas we hunt, gathering valuable information that is analyzed by our seasoned, professional head guides. We also take into consideration the length of driving required to reach the field, but always with the mission of providing you with the best possible dove shooting experience.

Córdoba has a temperate climate, with mild winters and hot summers. During the summer months of December to February, temperatures can range from 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, making hunting in the middle of the day uncomfortable. That’s why it’s the perfect time to take a break and enjoy a delicious asado under our tented quinchos and rest in the shade of the trees before heading out for the rest of the day. This break will help you stay energized and refreshed for the remainder of the day’s hunting activities.

In the fall months of March to May and in the spring from September to November, temperatures in Córdoba are milder, with highs ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. The weather is generally dry during this time, which makes for excellent hunting conditions.

Winter in Córdoba runs from June to August and can be chilly, with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-60s Fahrenheit. This is the coolest time of the year, but it’s still a great time for hunting. So whether you prefer mild or hot weather, there’s a perfect time for you to come and enjoy the hunting experience in Córdoba.

To get to Pica Zuro Lodge there are daily direct flights from many U.S. cities to Buenos Aires (Ezeiza Intl. Airport – EZE). From Ezeiza you might be able to connect into a direct flight to Córdoba (Pajas Blancas Airport – COR)  or ground transfer to the domestic airport Jorge Newbery – AEP (40’ to 1 hr drive), and take a 1 hr flight to Córdoba. Once at the lodge, you are conveniently close to terrific dove fields with drives averaging 45 minutes depending on the time of the year.

Hunters may also fly into Santiago, Chile with connecting flights to Córdoba city. That will allow you to make the most of your trip as you will be dove-shooting the day of your arrival (depending on the different flight schedules).

Location

Pica Zuro Lodge is located in the province of Córdoba, in Central Argentina, 60 miles (100 km) north of the Córdoba City International Airport. The driving time from the airport to the lodge is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

Known as the “Heartland of Argentina“, the province of Córdoba boasts of its abundant natural resources and breathtaking landscapes. It is considered one of the most prosperous provinces in the country due to its thriving agricultural industry, especially in the production of soybeans and wheat. The province’s mild climate and optimal breeding conditions have also resulted in a significant population of doves, making Córdoba a world-renowned destination for dove-hunting enthusiasts.

The Hunting

What to expect on the field

At Pica Zuro Lodge the focus of the program is the thoughtful pairing of luxurious hospitality with truly World Class wing shooting, to create the ultimate sporting holiday. For nearly 40 years, Córdoba has been considered the dove shooting capital of the world, and our David Denies lodges have been at the forefront of that experience. 

Your quarry at Pica Zuro will be the Eared Dove, which is named for a dark patch of feather on the side of the bird’s upper cheek that looks like an ear. These doves are about the same size as North America’s popular mourning dove, and on the hand, it’s difficult to tell the two species apart. In the Córdoba region, farming practices and vast roost areas allow these birds to thrive at considerable population levels. 

With millions of doves residing within a 150-mile radius of the lodge, we can easily access a wide range of shooting fields, with short scenic drives through the area’s idyllic countryside. Hunters can experience a wide variety of shooting scenarios throughout the year. The gorgeous, brushy hillside roosting and feeding areas offer great variety, as you can take positions down in valleys, from aside riverbeds, and on the peaks and points of the hills. During the fall harvest seasons, hunters might find themselves shooting along agricultural fields of sorghum, corn, and sunflowers. While each location offers its own special scenarios and shooting opportunities, all offer incredible numbers of fast-flying doves.

The driving time from the lodge to the fields can vary significantly depending on the location of the doves and other environmental factors. Driving distances usually range from 20 minutes to 90 minutes on average, with a daily average of 45 minutes. Our priority is to provide you with the best hunting experience, so we always aim to take the shortest route possible. However, if one day we need to drive a longer distance, we’ll always try to balance it out with shorter driving times on other days of your stay. Please take into account that driving times are always subject to the behavior of the doves and the weather.

In the field, each hunter will be accompanied by a field assistant, who will prepare your shooting blind, provide shells and refreshments, and oversee your experience. Unlike some other outfitters, David Denies Bird Hunting field assistants are full-time professionals, with years of guiding and shooting experience. There are no young “bird boys” in the field, all of our staff are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to high-volume dove shooting, and their expertise will bring your experience to the next level.

One of the most common questions we are asked, in regard to the shooting, is what happens to the birds?. Each day our lodges donate hundreds of pounds of processed dove meat to Mission Esperanza Foundation. We feed 800+ children per day and have already built 3 community centers with our donations and those of our guests.

Mornings will begin with a wakeup call, approximately an hour before departure time. Breakfast will be served shortly thereafter, with everything from waffles to Eggs Benedict, all made to order. Hunters will depart the lodge after breakfast, usually, around 8:30 – 9:00 am. Drives vary depending on the season but generally average around 45 minutes. The morning shoot will begin upon arrival at the field. You will be met by your field assistant and escorted to your shooting position. Additionally, our head guide will also be available to assist or provide tips on your hunting if desired.

Depending on the time of the year, you will shoot until noon each day, then enjoy an incredible Asado lunch, shaded by a comfortable tent or unique hand-made shelter, where you will enjoy Argentina’s wonderful beef and superb wines. After lunch, and a short siesta, the afternoon shooting begins at around 2 – 2:30, and continues until around 5:00 pm. There is no required quitting time, good sense and tired shooters dictate when the day is through.

After the shooting day has come to an end, you will return to the lodge, where you will be met with cocktails & appetizers, followed by a delicious dinner and time to relax.

Hunting Equipment

David Denies provides hunters with high-quality loaner hunting equipment

Many of our guests find renting guns from the lodge they are visiting to be an easier solution than applying for consular permits and traveling with their own shotguns. It’s easy to rent a gun from the lodge. We have a good selection of guns that are appropriate for the destination at each lodge. Just browse the gun rack until you find a gun that you like. Then, the lodge manager or your guide will note the specific number of the rental gun. That gun will be yours for the duration of your stay. However, you are welcome to change guns along the way and try something different if you wish. You are only charged for one rental so you can switch guns if you wish. We want you to shoot a gun you are comfortable and effective with! You will settle up for the rental at the end of your stay when you are charged for shells and other expenses.

Culinary Experience

At David Denies, our goal is to deliver a true taste of Argentina.

Our kitchens come to life through the use of fresh, locally sourced meats and produce. By combining these elements, we create delicious flavors and varied textures that harbor hidden stories and package traditions on each plate. A top-notch team of experienced national and international chefs, trained in both classic and avant-garde culinary techniques will prepare your meals, with an artisan’s touch.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – in our lodges, it consists of choices going from local free-range eggs benedict, fresh-baked bread and pastries, and organic & healthy foods – we change the options daily to keep things fresh. 

Dinner menus, influenced by the earthiness of the surrounding landscape, will be enjoyed in our beautifully designed dining room and each day you will enjoy an outdoor lunch experience, where chefs prepare every dish from scratch to be served at a minute’s notice. Freshness is paramount and the flavor is key.

Our famed Argentine beef comes from Aberdeen Angus and Hereford steers, grass-fed, from our Pampas. We carefully select our suppliers, guaranteeing the highest quality, flavor, and tenderness of our meat. All of our inspired lunch and dinner menus are paired with some of Argentina’s—and the world’s—best wines; Bodega Catena Zapata. 

In addition to our focus on fresh food with organic origins, we also celebrate our Argentine heritage with a wine partnership that brings truly world-class wines to our lodges. Our wide selection of finest wines, the best Argentine malbec from our region in Mendoza and a large variety of other grape selections, are served by a prepared team. We feel that the food we present and the wines we serve should mirror the sporting opportunities we offer—and be the very best available. While our vast country offers many options for traditional activities such as riding, hunting, eating good meats, and drinking good wines, we have chosen to blend fine food and outdoor activity at an even higher level.

Rates

Season 2023/24 – All year round

* Prices are in US$ and per person

Rates fluctuate between $650 and $850 per person per night. These rates are flexible based on the month of the season, number of hunters in the group, and lodge availability— please CONTACT US for an accurate quote.

* Non-hunters: $450 per person per night.

* Private parties: $8,950 p/night (up to 12 guests) + extras (Hunting Licenses, Gun Rental, cartridges & Tips)

* Hunting Licenses: $75 per person per day

* Gun Rental: $125 per person p/day

Included

Not included

Combine your trip

Double down on your sporting adventures and experience all The Kautapen Group has to offer by combining your stay with another of our hunting or fishing lodges.

Our research and experience tell us that over 50% of bird hunters are also actively interested in big game hunting, while over 60% are captivated by fishing. If you are a part of that majority, and are interested in adding variety to your sporting life, look no further than Red Stag Patagonia and Nervous Waters Fly Fishing. All three brands are proud members of The Kautapen Group – a single team of dedicated professionals focused on maintaining the highest standard of service and elevating your sporting experiences.

Interested in adding more hunting or fishing to your trip?

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