Recycling Shotgun Shells to Protect the Places We Call Home
At David Denies, we’ve always believed our responsibility goes beyond offering world-class bird hunting. While we take immense pride in exceptional service, beautiful lodges, and some of the finest wingshooting on Earth, we’re equally committed to protecting the landscapes we depend on and giving back to the communities that welcome us.
One initiative we’re especially proud of is our shotgun shell recycling program. It’s a hands-on effort that transforms waste into opportunity, keeping our fields clean and sustainable for future generations.
Each week, across our dove hunting lodges in Córdoba, our teams collect and recycle more than 600 kilograms of spent shotgun shells. In Santiago del Estero, where logistics differ, we gather around 300 kilograms weekly and organize larger-scale collections every two months. Just a few weeks ago, we sent over two tons of shells in a single shipment for recycling.
Here’s how it works: after collection, the shells are weighed and delivered to a local recycling facility. There, a specialized process separates the plastic and brass. First, the entire shell is shredded. Then, through a mix of water flotation and magnetic separation, the metal is extracted and sent into traditional metal recycling streams. The plastic is cleaned, blended with other recycled materials, and formed into dark polypropylene pellets. These pellets are sold to manufacturers who repurpose them into products ranging from car parts to containers. Instead of ending up in a landfill, the shell gets a second life.
We may not have talked about these efforts as much as we should have, but they’ve long been part of who we are. And now, we’re ready to change that.
Our goal is to lead by example and show that sustainability and top-tier sporting experiences can go together. We encourage others in the industry to join us, not only in delivering unforgettable hunts, but in caring for the land and communities we all rely on.
Because great shooting should never come at the environment’s expense.
Learn more about our past recycling initiatives:
