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Wildfowling on the wet Pampas

Thirteen species on the same water, from May to August, off the marshes around Rio Bravo Lodge in Santa Fe. Flighting at first light, and the river in the afternoon.

Santa Fe · May to August

There is no better duck ground than the Pampas

Rio Bravo sits in the wet Pampas, which is the short answer to why the wildfowling here is what it is. The lodge is not near good duck habitat; it is in it.

What that produces is variety rather than a single quarry. Thirteen species are common on this water — rosy-billed pochard, whistling duck in two kinds, pintail in two more, red shoveler, Brazilian duck, four teal, black-headed duck and Chiloe wigeon. A British Gun will recognise perhaps half the list and will not have shot most of it.

The other thing worth saying is that it is not hard going. Depending on where the birds are you will be on a big pond, a small lagoon or an island, reached by a short walk, a boat or a vehicle. Mornings are the flight; the afternoon is usually the river, after dorado.

Season: May–AugFour months, and they do not move
Species: 13Common on this water
Where: Rio BravoThe wet Pampas, province of Santa Fe
Getting there: ShortOn foot, by boat or by vehicle

Before the flight

What Guns ask about duck

May to August. Those four months are when the flighting is on at Rio Bravo, and nothing shifts them. If August is the month you have, you could book either a duck week or a cast and blast week — it is the one month the two overlap.

Thirteen species are common on this water: rosy-billed pochard, white-faced and fulvous whistling duck, white-cheeked and yellow-billed pintail, red shoveler, Brazilian duck, ringed, speckled, silver and cinnamon teal, black-headed duck and Chiloe wigeon. Most Guns will not have shot half of them before.

Not much. You might be on a big pond, a small lagoon or an island, and getting there is a short walk, a short boat trip or a short drive depending on where the birds are. It suits mixed parties and it suits guests who would rather not wade a mile in the dark.

Duck