Looking for opinions: Argentina dove hunt prices and extra fees?

[ILhunt]

We had the winning bid at a banquet (2 years ago have 4 years to do the hunt) on an 8 person Argentina dove hunt. This particular hunt has added some costs to the original agreement and has raised some other costs and I wonder if anyone with more knowledge than myself about Argentina hunting might be able to weigh in on if these are typical fees or if I should cancel the hunt and find a different outfitter…

115.00 per day per person gun rental
375 per day per person hunting license
495 per person land lease fee and airport transfer
Shells and gratuities extra (no information about this price is included, but assumed to be pretty high?)

 

[kpoynter]

Well, the “Argentina Auction Model” is built around getting people into camp.
They make money no matter what (which hey…is ok)
Now, your shells per box are now $20 a box at most places. They want you to shoot some $800 worth of shells per day or more. You would pay that (depending on how much you want to shoot) no matter what
Many of the fees you mention on auction hints are all Variable Fees that would Normally be baked into the cost of a NORMAL SALE… so let’s say a normal price is maybe $1,800-$2,400 (some more and a few slightly less) for this hunt you bought at auction (it’s probably say $2,000 for argument purpose)
Add your fees listed up…. It will add up. Normally they add a “bird boy fee” or something similar per hunt per day above what you listed ( I guess in the $375)
Check their shell price… I’ve seen Auction hunts charge say $22 a box vs say $19/$20 (another $80-$100 surcharge)

Bottom line is the auctions are fine and I’ve been wanting to do buy one for fun but you have to know how much to pay because of the shifted arithmetic on cost. It usually equated to a discount but the outfitter makes a little money on the deal (just not what they may ordinarily make)

 

[Flipper Dude]

My last trip. Just FYI

 

[gillettehunter]

Hunting license PER DAY. That seems like they are just flat stealing from you. I'd have a tough time letting that one pass. But I'm also cheap.....
Bruce

 

[DieJager]

375 per day per person hunting license

This has to be a typo. Otherwise it make no sense and would be way too expensive.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Hunt ducks! Save a fortune in shells!

 

[wesheltonj]

I would consider that hunt to be a nice donation to the group and pass the hunt if those fees are correct.

 

[pilar]

I went with a group of friends on a invite, ( just pay your airfare, shot shells, ect )
The food and shooting , lodging was amazing and a OIL experience
The travel expenses & time and shells was crippling as a result of me Assuming it was in my budget!
Houston to bueno Aires to Córdoba, then drive to the lodge took 2 days, hunting 3 days, then return 2 days,
It’s a wing shooting paradise just understand the hidden costs and extreme travel time before hand

 

[kpoynter]

This has to be a typo. Otherwise it make no sense and would be way too expensive.

I would normally agree 100%, however, this IS an Auction deal.
They normally have a couple of line items/costs in these like “Field Fees” and “Bird Boy Fees” etc
I think they may have rolled some fees into this one. all the Auction Hunts have a bunch of extra “per day” fees.
I may be a little off but if you pay maybe $800-$1,000 per person at these auctions you probably break even.

 

[ILhunt]

I have gone on a few auction hunts in the past, and at this fundraiser there was little turnout and we live in a rural area with few people that seem interested in traveling outside of the country. I went to the banquet with the intention of bidding on an African hunt and was prepared to spend a few thousand on that, in the end there were few bidders and I won this hunt for 3 days and 8 hunters and an African hunt for 4 hunters for 7 days that I have already taken for 800 bucks each and was definitely an amazing deal, so I am not out very much (and am okay with calling that a donation and finding a different outfitter or hunting trip for my husband and I and three kids (all who trap shoot and love to travel!)

I’ve had it on a couple of emails that the license is per person per day, and this would up the expense A LOT from what I was anticipating, I will double check on that! I was also surprised that there was also a land lease fee per person, but maybe that’s common in Argentina and just built into the price in Africa?

 

[ILhunt]

My last trip. Just FYI

View attachment 676904

Thank you so much, this is very helpful and was more of what I was expecting!

 

[ILhunt]

I would normally agree 100%, however, this IS an Auction deal.
They normally have a couple of line items/costs in these like “Field Fees” and “Bird Boy Fees” etc
I think they may have rolled some fees into this one. all the Auction Hunts have a bunch of extra “per day” fees.
I may be a little off but if you pay maybe $800-$1,000 per person at these auctions you probably break even.

I only paid 800 for the entire package of 8 hunters/3 days, so maybe some of this is trying to recoup the poor auction bidding? I’m not sure if that happens

 

[ILhunt]

I have now been told that the 375 license per person per day was a typo on their pages and will be 375 per person not per day…that makes it a bit more affordable

 

[DieJager]

I have now been told that the 375 license per person per day was a typo on their pages and will be 375 per person not per day…that makes it a bit more affordable

Yeah that seems to be more reasonable. Not too bad after all. But the more you blast the more you pay. Have fun, if you decide to do it.

 

[K-man]

I was scheduled to go on a similar hunt with some friends before covid. The organizer had arranged to ship a pallet of 12 gauge shotgun shells over beforehand. With the low cost here (around 5$ at that time) we were supposed to shoot 1/2 the pallet and then sell the other half to the outfitter. Our trip was going to cost less than a thousand per person each plus airfare. Unfortunately that didn't happen. If you could do something similar now it would be a great deal.

 

[wesheltonj]

The change in the license fee is a lot better. The shotgun rental may or not be high. I have a friend who goes every other year. He burns out at least one barrel and sometimes two. I would sure want to know the cost for a box of shells.

 

[flatwater bill]

As sportsmen's shows become more greedy and require ALL exhibitors to make a donation we see this pretty frequently. Operators have become very clever at donating......nothing. This hunt requires you to recruit the other 7 hunters......that helps them a bunch, then they charge too much for everything. These added costs about equal the real, fair market price.......above and beyond your winning bid. Anyway, your bid money is already gone.....and the remaining price will about add up to what you would pay elsewhere. Clarify the daily costs for licenses, and start recruiting hunters...........it'll probably be a fun hunt............FWB

 

[Firebird]

I would check with several other options (outfitters) and compare the overall costs. I haven’t dealt with doves only hunting, usually dove/duck combo and yours is just a bit troubling. I’m glad you figured out the license issue

 

[kpoynter]

I only paid 800 for the entire package of 8 hunters/3 days, so maybe some of this is trying to recoup the poor auction bidding? I’m not sure if that happens

Well that’s a deal… especially with the $375 only once
Go and have fun. Make sure you spend a little time in Buenos Aires for sure (it’s a long trip down)
You are in good shape it would seem on the deal.
Just budget your shell cost and you are good