Jacana Lodge, located in Lincoln 300 Kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires City, is famed for its abundant Duck populations, more than you’ll find at any one lodge in North America. Thanks to the Lodges proximity to migratory routes, exceptional habitat and limited pressure on resource, the population has boomed. This, combined with the fact that rainfall and grain production has increased over the past fifteen years, the conditions for waterfall has flourished, providing vast amounts of marshes, ponds, lakes, and potholes, allowing superior feeding and roosting opportunities.
As you’d expect with all David Denies programs, Jacana Lodge draws on the hundreds of years of combined experience their staff bring to the table in guiding, outfitting, and preparing bird hunting programs for discriminating hunting guests. The hunting takes place twice a day, morning and evening, across more than one hundred comfortable, camouflaged dry blinds. Using quality species-specific decoys, boats, vehicles, trucks and guides to get you to where the ducks are each day, it’s no wonder why the Jacana Lodge is at the top of many keen wildfowlers wishlist.
Since 2001 it remains No.1 in South America for Duck Shooting, and 2015 was its best year ever. Consistency becomes a legacy.
At Jacana Lodge, it’s not just Duck Shooting; it’s the best-decoyed waterfowling you’ll find anywhere, targeting over thirteen species of exotic yet familiar birds, launched from an elegant lodge that lends comfort and character to the whole experience.
The Lodge is situated amongst Argentina’s migratory crossroads, where birds from the north pause on their migration south and birds migrating north from Southern Argentina stop to overwinter. Over this vast agricultural area, inundated with water, it’s the perfect habitat for Ducks and, in turn, Duck hunters. The Lodge has over one hundred hunting locations that get religiously rotated to make sure each day every travelling gun is on ‘fresh’ Ducks. It’s famed for Ducks in the morning and afternoon, short drives, comfortable blinds and professional guiding by Lodge Manager Charlie Lanusse and his expert team.
The Argentine Duck shooting season runs from the beginning of May until late July, a time of year often overlooked by the northern hemisphere visitors. During this time, you can expect to encounter many different species, with Fulvus Whistling Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Silver Teals, White Faced Whistling Duck, Southern Wigeon, Speckled Teal and Cinnamon Teal, to name just a few.
As is a tradition in Argentina, hunters depart the Lodge just before dawn after a hearty breakfast with everything from waffles to eggs Benedict. Drives vary depending on water conditions but range from ten to forty-five minutes, but the guides will ensure you’re well situated and ready to shoot as the morning light develops and the mist rises. Decoys are always set out and ready for the hunter’s arrival.
The shooting commences from double dry blinds or large sunken ‘bucket blinds’ or platform pallet blinds, depending on the topography of that day’s shoot. While the blinds are dry and comfortable, getting to them requires that shooter to bring waders which will also help with wind and weather protection in the Argentine winter.
Shooting over decoys starts at first light and continues until 10 am or later. Most days, Duck hunters return to the Lodge for lunch and a siesta before afternoon departures at around 3 pm for the evening Duck hunt; this will be over some new ground for ‘fresh’ birds. Evening shoots get typically conducted closer to the confines of the Lodge, so drives are generally shorter, lasting until last light. Exhausted but happy, shooters will then return to the Lodge for cocktails, appetisers and an Argentine dinner accompanied by handpicked wines from the Mendoza region.
To find out more about Duck Shooting In Argentina at Jacana Lodge, visit our YouTube channel.
In this area of Argentina, known as the central lowlands or wet pampas, there are thirteen common species of Duck that travelling guns can expect to encounter. Most all whistle, except for the Pochard, which purrs, or burrs like the Canvasback. The six most commonly found include the…
Speckled Teal
Similar to other Teal, Speckled Teals belong to the diverse genus Anas. More precisely, they are one of the “true” Teals of subgenus Nettion. Their DNA sequence is similar to the Green-winged Teal, although the two species share little outward resemblance. Apart from its relationship with red-and-green headed teals, Speckled Teals closely resemble Indian Ocean Teals. But their uni-coloured underside & namesake bill are unique.
Yellow-Billed Pintail
The Yellow-billed Pintail has a brown head and neck. Their bills are yellow with a black tip and a black stripe down the middle. The tail is brownish and pointed. The upper wing is greyish-brown, and the secondaries are blackish-green. The rest of the body is buffish-brown, with varying size black spots. The species is sometimes confused with Speckled Teal but can be differentiated by yellow stripes on the bill and its larger size.
Rosey-Billed Pochard
The Rosy-billed Pochard comes from the species Peposaca derived from a Guaraní word for “showy wings.” The wings feature a broad white stripe that is only visible when stretched out. Male ducks have a distinctive red bill, while the female is slate-coloured. Though classified as a diving duck, this Pochard feeds more like a dabbling duck.
White-Faced Whistling Duck
The White-faced Whistling Duck is gregarious, and, at favoured sites, flocks of a thousand or more birds show at dawn and are an impressive sight. As the name implies, these are noisy birds with a clear three-note whistle. They feature long grey bills, long heads, and longish legs. They have white faces and crowns and black rear heads. The back and wings are dark browns to black, and the underparts are black, although the flanks have fine white barring.
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
The Fulvous Whistling-Duck is one of the most widespread waterfowl species in the world. It breeds across tropical regions such as Central and South America and north to the Gulf Coast of the U.S. They are largely resident, apart from local movements, but vagrancy has occurred in southern Europe. Habitat includes freshwater lakes, paddy fields, and reservoirs with plentiful vegetation, where they feed nocturnally on seeds and other plant parts.
Silver Teal
The Silver Teal’s range includes much of South America, and they are the southernmost bird to migrate to southern Brazil in the winter. Silver Teals are generally placid ducks but are protective of eggs, their young, and females. They have a black cap that extends below the eyes and a bluish bill with a yellow tip. They also have a green speculum with a white border.
You can also expect to encounter the Red Shoveler, Southern Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, White Cheeked Pintail, Black-headed Duck, Ringed Teal and the Brazilian Duck or Teal.
Located in a traditional working Estancia, Jacana is a home away from home, with stylish living spaces, large comfortable rooms and excellent food and wine. The Lodge was built specifically for hunters as it is a perfect base of operations, and it has every amenity you could wish for as a travelling gun.
The Lodge has the capacity for ten hunters, with five double rooms, each with a private en-suite. There is a posh dining room, sitting room, bar, and recreation room, and each is within view of a large fireplace. The usual amenities include: telephone, internet access and satellite TV, maid and laundry service, a masseuse, and the gift shop offers local artwork and crafts, logo wear and accessories.
At Jacana Lodge, they take your dining experiences seriously, and they strive to make every meal as fantastic as every trip to the field. They offer a la carte dining to our shooting guests. Their kitchens come to life through the use of fresh and regionally representative meats and produce. Combining these elements creates delicious flavours and varied textures that harbour 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, execute your food.
Days start with a hearty breakfast composed of various homemade bread, jam, meadow honey, fresh fruit, natural yoghurts, cereals and eggs prepared any one of six ways, including porridge, French toast and the daily special.
Their legendary field lunches at Jacana are all about Asado-style cooking. Lunch is served al fresco in the hunting area each day, featuring various meats, like grilled Dove breasts, short ribs, lamb and chicken.
The evening meal is a celebration of fine dining in a casual setting, and it is a chance for their house chefs to shine. Again, options are a la carte, so if you enjoy their famous beef and wish to enjoy a steak each evening, they’ll happily grill one to order. But if you’d like to be a bit more adventurous and want to try Risotto with calamari ink or grilled trout with tomato puree, then we encourage you to sample their speciality dishes.
Finally, there are the desserts, with each day bringing a new creation, from flan to local delights such ad dulce de leche, plus fruit, homemade ice creams, and pies.
Their lunch and dinner menus get paired with some of Argentina’s and the world’s best wines from Bodega Catena Zapata. They feel that the food they present and their wines should mirror the sporting opportunities on offer and be the very best available. Their wines boast many accolades from the wine community, and a Bodega Catena Zapata wine recently received a “number four in the world” icon ranking from Wine Advocate. These are truly great wines that hold a special place in their culture, and the Lodge is proud to serve them.
For either travelling non-hunters or hunters who don’t wish to shoot on every session, you can explore the thousands of stunning acres of the surrounding countryside on either foot or by horseback, and the guides can take you to the best sightseeing spots.
For your convenience, the Lodge also offers free high-speed wireless access. So you can check e-mails or send bragging photos to your friends, family and fellow hunters back home.
The below itinerary is flexible should you require additional fishing days or additional free days to explore; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Buenos Aries International Airport
After you have picked up your luggage and cleared customs, a Sportquest Holidays representative will be waiting to transfer you to Jacana Lodge (4.5 transfer time).
Overnight Accommodation: Jacana Lodge (Twin room) F/B
Over the next 4 days shoot, as is traditional in Argentina, you depart the lodge pre-dawn after a hearty breakfast and will be situated and ready to shoot as the morning light develops and the mist lifts. After the morning shoot and bird collection, you are transferred back to the lodge to clean up and enjoy a traditional gala Argentine lunch followed by a much-needed siesta. In mid-afternoon, you will again deploy to the field into new blinds and fresh areas for an evening shoot that continues until the last light. Exhausted but happy, you will then return to cocktails, appetizers and an all-out Argentine dinner accompanied by handpicked wines from the Mendoza region.
Overnight Accommodation: Jacana Lodge (Twin room) F/B
In the morning our staff will transport you back to Buenos Aires. (Transfer time 4.5 Hours)
Depart Buenos Aires (Flights normally depart to the UK around 2 PM)
Arrive Home
The season runs from May to August.
Season: April to August
Peak: May to July
Gun Licence (approx $65 pp per day)
Gun Hire (approx $95 pp per day)
Shells (approx $19 per box)
Non- Hunter $650 per person per night.
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 | 8 | £9,957 | Enquire Now |
| 01/06/2024 | 30/06/2024 | 8 | £9,957 | Enquire Now |
| 01/07/2024 | 31/07/2024 | 8 | £9,957 | Enquire Now |
| 01/05/2025 | 31/05/2025 | 8 | £10,337 | Enquire Now |
| 01/06/2025 | 30/06/2025 | 8 | £10,337 | Enquire Now |
| 01/07/2025 | 31/07/2025 | 8 | £10,337 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on two adults sharing transfers, shooting and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
More ducks than I can imagine shooting at home in a single season.
Fantastic staff, accommodation the whole trip and organisation was faultless
Keith, glad you though our shooting was amazing.
Very good organization, very nice people, wonderful duck shooting.
Thank you so much Hubert.
The hunting is fabulous.
The lodge is very nice.
The help and service is wonderful.
Great experience, thats all we can say.
Thats all you need to say a nice review thank you.
Just wanted to say everyone here was so nice and helpful.
They made this trip into a very relaxing and fun holiday for everyone on our group.
Thank you so much see you again.
A big thank you to you and all the staff, the shooting was great, more than I expected.
Accommodations and staff were exceptional as was the food.
We all would love to return again soon.
Terry, thank you for your comments very much appreciated by us all.
The experience has been the best, by far of all of the bird hunting destinations that I have been to. Hopefully, I will return someday soon.
Please pass on my thanks to all the bird boys and lodge staff for me.
Richard, a pleasure as always see you again soon we hope.
My overall experience was absolutely amazing!.
I even impressed myself with some of my shooting which came from the challenge of the guides and field staff.
I look forward to returning and only wish I could return every year.
Congratulations on your shooting and a massive thank you for taking the time to comment on your stay.
Everything was as near perfect as it could be.
From the time we got off the plane till the time we got back on (your airport people were great!!!!!) we had nothing but a great time, and everything flowed really well.
Shawn, we try to take care of everything for you all.
Thank you for your custom and kind words.
We thought the lodge was great, food excellent, great rooms and even the shell allowance found the correct balance.
Bird boys were without fault and very professional, I was impressed with the variety of locations and the quality of sport offered and the organisation was seamless, full marks to Charlie for getting us up every morning, I couldn’t do that all season.
I have already told my shooting friends about the trip, their most important question was ‘Would you go back’? The answer was YES
Thats a fantastic report and review and glad that you would come back as that says a lot.
Thank you so much for having Sam and I at the Jacana Lodge.
We both had a wonderful time.
I thought for a long time about the question you had about what improvements you should make. I don’t think you should change anything. Your attention to detail and no confusion about how things are run made the whole experience a great time.
We will never forget our hunt with you at Jacana.
Again thank you so much.
My NEW life goal is to return to Jacana
Karl it was a pleasure to have you both at the lodge, thank you for taking the time to write a few kind words, very much appreciated.
Regards
I had a blast in Argentina shooting ducks with Charlie.
The Lodge is FIRST CLASS and the shooting is FIRST CLASS.
I cannot say enough GOOD about the food, the service, Charlie and his team.
They are the BEST, FIRST CLASS. hard to come home to reality after that trip.
Greg
Thanks for such an amazing destination review, so happy that you enjoyed everything so much.
Absolutely impeccable! By far the best shooting trip I have ever been on.
The meals were incredible and only superceded by the quality of the hunting itself.
Without question one of the finest establishments I have ever visited. I cannot thank you enough.
Thomas thanks for the review it sure is amazing Duck shooting one of the best :)
Everything was excellent.
Great food, shooting and company.
Bird boys were all super guys.
Thanks guys we all had a real blast.
Thank you from us and all the staff for taking the time to write such kind words. Look forward in having you back again soon.
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