About 25 years ago, 80% of the surface of Cordoba was covered with woodlands full of quebracho, carob, tala piquillin and chañar trees, to name a few. This was an area where farming was not the main countryside industry. The main business was cattle raising, developed in two ways: cattle raising in the north and dairy farming in the east, the Arroyito area. At that time, settlers grew corn or sorghum in reduced spaces, simply for the cattle. Over the years– as farming was encouraged- these large woodland extensions were cleared. At that moment, countrymen did not realize they were creating the perfect geography and environment for ear doves to reproduce massively; in a short time, they became a serious problem for farmers. The huge grey clouds of doves covered the fields and left nothing for the harvest. They were fought against in several ways, with no great results. Instead, year after year, they grew in inestimable proportions. In addition, the clearance continued and formed two big sectors which ear doves chose for their reproductive cycle: one sector in the north of Cordoba city, covering a straight line between Jesus Maria and Rio Seco (the former is a city and the latter is a department of the province), and the other in the east, in the city of Arroyito.

The latter is a beautiful city blessed with two remarkable industries. On the one hand, there is the most important factory of Argentina– second most important in the candy industry- and on the other, the doves that flap their wings over Arroyito in perfect harmony with clouds. This reduced woodland of about 900 acres houses more than 20,000,000 doves. It is also worth mentioning that there are smaller woodland areas nearby which are used by ear doves in certain periods of the year- depending on the harvest- for a matter of comfort. This means that even though ear doves are not migratory species, they usually stay in great quantities– between March and May, harvest time in Argentina- in reduced woodlands near the sown fields, for a matter of comfort. But, when it comes to breeding, the two areas previously mentioned are the ones they choose as their home. Doves lay their eggs three times a year, starting in September and finishing in March. I have never been fond of Maths but, 10 million couples of doves by three egg-lays a year, bearing in mind that the ones born in September are able to reproduce themselves by January, equals an awesome number. However, the most significant fact is that the roosts always maintain the same amount of doves. This is due to two factors. One, the young doves are born in the time of wheat harvest– not the most important cereal for doves- so food is not abundant and many of them die due to the lack of food. The other factor is space. Every woodland has a limit as regards capacity, so the numbers keep constant. The hunter is not included here because even though about 2 million doves are killed a year, this number is not representative in this area.

A very important dove-related aspect for countrymen is that doves used to be an economic trouble because they meant a decrease in harvest, but today they mean profitable business. This is the consequence of the great number of foreigners who visit our country for dove hunting. Field owners rent their fields to different companies devoted to hunting and this results in a new income for the former.

As regards hunting as such, ear doves are not migrating birds, they are custom birds. Every morning, they look for food around the very same paths (streets), they stay in the area where they eat and in the first hours of the afternoon they head back to the roost, but they invariably need to drink water before getting in the roost. Because we know dove “routine”, we organize dove hunting in many different ways to satisfy all dove hunters.

In the morning, we hunt in the areas where doves eat; this is a shell with shoots that vary from about 15 to 20 meters since we make the blinds in the sown fields. In the morning also, when doves get off the woodland, shots are really exciting and filled with adrenalin; they are called cross shooting. Cross shooting is a shooting from 25 to 30 meters and it is preferred for those who practice sporting clays; it demands a lot of concentration as the doves come off the roost in a zigzag flight. In the afternoon, we propose two ways of shooting: nearby the water they drink or at the cross before they get into the woodland. Even though the shooting is similar to that of the morning, in the afternoon, dove flight is more uniform and this gives a better shooting average.

The “estancia” (typical Argentine ranch) is a beautiful farmhouse of seven bedrooms with private bathroom, located at only one hour by car from Cordoba airport and at only 15 minutes from Arroyito city. My brother, my wife and I are in charge of making lots of hunting friends who visit us from different places across the world. In my opinion, we make a perfect team. My grandfather, Pino, transmitted me his hunting genes and his joy and spark to my brother, which are his main characteristics –he spends the whole day in the countryside. Finally, the other person to whom I owe the whole business to, my wife, who both came with me in this business and made her dream come true: a big restaurant with typical food. Today, she has the satisfaction of preparing her dishes to our hunting friends every night at the estancia.

In detail

Dove hunting starts at the estancia very early in the morning with a good American breakfast– eggs and bacon, toasts and butter, fruits, natural juice and a good hot coffee. In half an hour, everything is ready for action. Our 4x4 with heated engines and loaded with dozens of shell cases are ready for hunters to start a day full of adrenalin and excitement.

In 20 minutes, we are in the shooting field. Ech birdboy is in the blind, counter in hand, waiting for the hunter to arrive. My brother, Roberto, checks that everything is fine and, at the scream of “shoot”, a new day awakens.

Two hours after the shooting started, many shooters have already finished their shell cases and ask for a truce to have a drink and talk with the hunters in the next blind about the incredible shell they are enjoying themselves while others ask for a second case overwhelmed by what they see, unable to stop shooting. Usually at 11:00 a.m., one by one, hunters, come back to the camp looking for some shadow, a comfortable chair and a cool, relaxing beer.

At 12:00 p.m., the table is set and everybody is eager to taste the Argentine meat, the “asado” (barbecue) so many friends in the States have talked about. Some of them choose to continue with beer and some others prefer to taste the exquisite red wines from Mendoza province. A nice chat and laughs make a spectacular lunch outdoors. After an hour of conversation about hunting and other topics, the hammocks are ready for us to take a refreshing nap although some prefer to continue with the dialogue.

At 3 p.m., when doves start to head back to the woodland, everybody quits the activities they are engaged in and focus on the preparations: cap on head, glove, ear and shoulder protector, a little suncream, one or two shotguns and action begins once more. At about 6:00 p.m., when the sun starts to set, we meet in the shooting area to talk about the great afternoon and gaze at the last flocks flying over us. In case it is the last hunting afternoon, we take pictures and complain because it is time to go back.

At about 7:00 p.m., we are back in the estancia and, after a warm bath, we gather in the dinning room, have a couple of drinks and wait for dinner to make up for the energy lost along the day. At 11:00 p.m., we go to bed as we know there is still another great day to come!!!