Los Picazos Lodge

Duck hunting at Los Picazos includes all of the tools and amenities you’d expect at a fine duck club in North America. The program offers wonderful blinds, good decoys and all the equipment needed to move hunters speedily and happily from lodge to hunt and back again. At Los Picazos, duck hunting is the only thing on the menu– you’ll duck hunt in the morning, take a break at midday and be back out at a new location each afternoon. More good news- the lodge is located less than two hours from the international airport in Buenos Aires, you will easily be able to make half day hunts on arrival and departure. Los Picazos lodge features 4 elegantly appointed bedrooms, each with queen beds and private bath, and we can host up to a maximum of 6 hunters, all paired with the service and impeccable attention to detail that David Denies is known for.

Why Choose Los Picazos Lodge?

Duck hunting with nothing left to chance

  • Capacity: 6 guns.
  • Accommodation: 4 rooms with private bathroom (2 rooms with 2 queen size beds each, and 2 rooms with individual king size beds).
  • Single rooms are provided on a first-come first-take basis at $ 100 extras per night.
  • Dining room, comfortable sitting room with fireplace, bar, recreation room, wader/storage room for the storing of hunting equipment, gun cleaning table and facilities.
  • 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 breads and delicious desserts.
  • Maid and laundry service.
  • Masseuse.
  • 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 and Browning.
  • Waders provided at no extra charge.

What time of the year should I come?

Fall season (May until early June)

  • Best variety of duck species. High probability to take all of the huntable duck species that inhabit our area. Although we may see more teal than any other duck species, this is the best time to look for a good mixed bag of South American ducks. We have 13 species of ducks in our area, with the cinnamon teal being the only species we share with the U.S, so most ducks will be new to first-time visitors.
  • Our ponds are full of water. After the heavy rains that take place during March and April (our autumn) the water level of the ponds and potholes are at their peak. The hunting scenery, in and around the ponds, is a bright green color with grass on the banks, as the hard frosts have not come yet.
  • Less hunting pressure. As Argentinians generally don’t hunt waterfowl, the only pressure comes from hunters from abroad that travel to Argentina in search of ducks. At the beginning of the season, the ducks haven’t heard a shot for a long period of time.
  • This is the time of the year where the main crop harvest takes place in our area. Buenos Aires province is considered one of the most fertile lands for agriculture. It is flat land similar to the plains in North America.  Geographically it is known as the humid pampas. Perfect duck habitat plus food from the crops. Corn, soybean and sorghum are being harvested during this time of the year and this brings the ducks in looking for food.

Winter season (Early June until July)

  • Big flocks of Rosies. Best opportunity to hunt big flocks of Rosy-Billed Pochards, over the decoys, on their migration to the north of the country. These are the largest flocks of ducks that migrate in South America, going from northern Patagonia to the south of Brazil. During June and July, we can see them in our area, migrating north in great numbers.
  • Duck hunting weather. From late May till mid-August is when the lowest temperature occurs in our area, therefore the ponds’ water level starts to go down and the reeds and grass starts changing the color from green to brown. Some evenings you can go hunting with just a sweater, while the morning hunts are going to be colder.
  • Ducks are in full plumage. With the coming of the winter and the lower temperatures, the ducks experience a change in their plumage. The Rosy’s beak is bright pink and their plumage is bright. You can see the true beauty of the other ducks’ species as well, with the colorful breeding plumage at its peak.
  • No bugs. The low temperatures of June and July kill the bugs that live in the humid parts of the lowlands.
Driving time is 1 hour and 30 minute’ from EZE international airport (75 miles) or 2 hours from Buenos Aires city or AEP domestic airport (90 miles), over good roads and through the beautiful Argentina countryside.

Location

Los Picazos Lodge is located in Roque Perez, in the province of Buenos Aires. At just 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Buenos Aires city, getting to the lodge is a simple drive from the international (EZE) or domestic airport (AEP).

The Hunting

What to expect on the field

The laser focus of our program is to provide an exceptional, traditional, duck hunting experience. You will be hunting morning and afternoon sessions, in a variety of locations throughout your visit. 

Blinds are well placed and scouted, providing the best possible opportunities at a number of South American duck species, including Yellow-billed Pintail, Speckled Teal, White-faced Whistling Duck, and the sought after Rosy-billed Pochard, plus many others. Depending upon location, hunters will be placed in double dry blind, or large dry, sunken “buckets” which are basically an individual pit blind, or on platform-pallet blinds.

You will hunt over well maintained, species-specific, decoy sets and motion decoys. Your guide will be nearby, to assist with bird identification, calling and anything else you may need throughout your hunt.

Los Picazos Lodge has acquired exclusive rights on nearly all of the hunting grounds that surround the lodge and we are the only duck hunting lodge in the region. This allows us to practice thoughtful management and stewardship of the water impoundments, and the duck resource, giving us the ability to carefully manage the duck hunting, ensuring the best possible experience for you and your family and friends each and every day of the season.

Morning 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 well before sunrise. Drives vary depending on water conditions, but range from ten to forty-five minutes. Shooting over decoys starts at first light and continues until 10 am or after.

You will return to the lodge for lunch, and some down to relax, or enjoy a siesta. Hunters will again depart for their afternoon duck hunt around 3pm. Evening hunts last until dark, after which you will return to the lodge, where you will be met with cocktails and appetizers as well as a delicious dinner before retiring for the evening.

Hunting Equipment

David Denies provides hunters with high-quality loaner hunting equipment

WADERS

Waders are available at the lodge, so you do not need to worry about taking up half of your luggage to pack a bulky pair of waders. During the planning process, you will complete a Pre-trip Questionnaire, on which we will only need to know your size in order to make sure you are all set for your hunt.

GUNS

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.

Here is a listing of the guns we have at the lodge presently:

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 and regionally representative 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.

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

With an artisan’s touch, influenced by the earthiness of the surrounding and landscape that can be enjoyed in our beautiful design house dining-room lodges and outdoor lunch experiences chefs prepare every dish by scratch to be served at a minute’s notice. Freshness is paramount and flavors the key.

All our beef comes from Aberdeen Angus and Hereford steers. It’s grass-fed cattle from our Pampas. We carefully select our suppliers, this guarantees the high quality, flavor, and tenderness of our meat., which you will enjoy cooked on the fire and in several different ways on our lodges and field. 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 2024 – May to July

* Prices are in US$ and per person

Rates fluctuate between $1250 and $1450 per person per night, based on shared occupancy & shared blind. 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: $650 per person per night

* Single Room: $100 per person per night

* Gun Rental: $125 per person p/day

Included

Not included

Video Gallery

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?

What Our Guests Think About Us