Is it a problem, or a hassle, to bring my own gun to either Argentina or Uruguay?
It depends. This is a very personal decision. Many of our clients bring their own shotgun every season, and will continue to no matter what. Los Gauchos Outfitters has had seasons with 20%of our total clientele bringing their own shotgun for the waterfowl or wingshooting trips. The remainder decided for various reasons, not to bring their own gun.
We suggest that you look at the following pros and cons very carefully before deciding which choice is right for you:
Bringing your gun to Argentina is a lot more expensive than it used to be.
First, Argentina has increased their gun permit prices over 65% in the last two years, even though their peso collapsed. Their money is now worth thirty-one cents on the dollar, but they decided to stick it to the visiting hunters. They now charge $110 per gun to bring your firearms into the country.
Uruguay uses a formula, calculated as a UR unit, which changes with the fluctuation between the U.S. Dollar and the UY Peso. They have always charged high entry prices.
If you wish to bring your firearms to either country the paperwork process on the South American side is actually easier than the U.S. re-entry—if one chooses to look at it from an investment of a “time spent standing around” standpoint (see the next FAQ for more info).
Upon arrival in South America, you simply present the one-page form that we will have sent you in advance to the airport police. You then open your case in front of the only two police officers that issue gun permits at the airport, and they stamp and complete your paperwork.
Finally, you pay $110 USD per gun (in cash at the airport), and you are on your way. The fee is actually 300 Argentine Pesos, which leaves you with about $10 USD change due back to you—but guess what?—they can’t make change.
If you are traveling to Uruguay, you will experience very little waiting, and won’t have to leave a “tip” at the airport to get a gun permit.
Los Gauchos Outfitters will send you the form or you can complete it online and the license will be ready when you arrive. The form is a "FINAL" sale type transaction, Uruguay officials set their schedules based on your arrival into the Montevideo airport. If it changes or you bring another gun or change anything the fee is still imposed.
So, while it is safe to enter Uruguay or Argentina with a gun, please complete the paperwork carefully with the correct information about the gun you will have with you upon arrival into Buenos Aires, Cordoba, or Montevideo.
The required data for each shotgun you bring into Argentina or Uruguay must include the serial number, make, model, gauge, and your passport information.
Contact Los Gauchos with any questions you have about arriving with shotguns. Our entire staff has gone through the process and can "walk" you through or answer any questions you may have.
How do I claim my guns upon arrival in Argentina and/or Uruguay?
In Argentina you will claim your gun cases with your regular checked baggage, and then proceed to the airport police station located next to customs.
In Uruguay, our porters from the baggage claim area will bring your gun cases to the inspection area.
What could be the most time consuming part of the process with respect to traveling with a firearm to South America?
Before you leave the USA one must complete a U.S. Customs Form 4457, which proves that you did not buy the guns in Argentina—therefore no taxes are due to Uncle Sam by you upon re-entry. Unfortunately, the Form 4457 must be completed in the presence of a US Customs officer.
This means on one of your days off, you need to go to the airport, or a U.S. Customs Office, and have this done. Otherwise, plan to arrive at least four hours before your scheduled departure in order to have this verification accomplished. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait nearly an hour just to see an inspector that is “available” to help you.
The good news is that once this Form 4457 is completed, it is valid for as long as you own the firearm, and need not be done ever again. The bad news is that we personally know hunters that blew off the requirement and had their guns confiscated by U.S. Customs at the airport until the hunter returned with a receipt or bill of sale proving that he indeed purchased the guns in the USA. This is bad news for you if your port of entry is Miami, and you live in Vegas…
Here is the real humor of the whole situation: Do you know how U.S. Customs verifies the gun actually belongs to you when you show up at the airport to get your Form 4457? You guessed it! They don’t. And they don’t care. No proof of purchase, receipt, or license is required. You just show your ID and fill out a piece of paper, and presto! You are now the legal owner—in the eyes of US Customs. The guns could belong to anybody.
We can only offer the following cliché, "There are only two certainties in life—death and taxes." Our advice to you is: Be Prepared and be Informed in order to protect yourself from the inconveniences and penalties of ignorant laws—its their country, their laws, and their jails.
How else can bringing my own gun run up the cost of my trip?
Don't forget that if you intend to bring a gun case on your trip, it counts as one of only two allowable checked bags, and if you meet the wrong ticket agent, the gun case can also cost you an extra $40 in “special handling fees” reserved for gun cases, surfboards, snow skis, and golf clubs. Even though it is only rarely enforced, it is a rule with most major carriers—so don’t be caught off guard if you get hit with it.
For dove hunting you will be near the limit, and for waterfowl hunting you will certainly need all the space your two bag limit will afford you in order to pack all of the clothing and equipment necessary for your hunt: chest waders, heavy parkas, hunting boots, etc.
The new airline baggage policies include an unbelievable 50 lbs per bag restriction!!! Anything over will cost you an additional $25 per bag until you reach 70lbs—then it is $100 dollars! And just in case you think you can beat the system by packing two large, lightweight duffels, they will nail you on a girth restriction if the bag is over 62 linear inches, that is an extra $100, and they will measure it. Guess what? If it is oversized, and over 50 lbs. you get to pay both!
Be kind to yourself. Pack lightly. Laundry services may or may not be included at the lodges—we can arrange for laundry to be sent out for cleaning at hotels. If you just bring only what you need, and use our guns, you can save money.
What kinds of guns are available to me by Los Gauchos Outfitters?
All of our premium waterfowl destinations offer use of 12ga Benelli m2 or Beretta 391 semi-autos in Uruguay duck hunting, various Italian over and unders in 20 ga. for dove, pigeon, and perdiz shooting in Western Uruguay, and nothing but Benelli m2 12 ga. In Argentina. We stock all interchangeable chokes. All of our guns are impeccably maintained, and none of them are ever more than a couple of years old. We guarantee that you will not be issued a low quality firearm at Los Gauchos.
Do you have any left-handed shotguns available?
We regret any inconvenience, but not at this time.
How do we pay for shotgun shells and other fees?
You may pay with cash (USD accepted). Some lodges do accept credit cards. Please ask if you have any questions about appropriate payments for shotgun shells and other incidentals. Traveler's Checks are not widely used in South America and if a store or lodge does accept them, please know a fee of at least 4 % will be added. This is due to the financial instituions in South America processing Travelers Checks. Also note that while some lodges do accept checks drawn on a US bank, there is a fee of at least 3% for processing a US based bank check. Also note that a fee for a returned check is $50 USD.
The ATM's in both Argentina and Uruguay accept most US based ATM cards. If you have any questions about paying for your shells upon departure, please ask Los Gauchos Outfitters.
Why is waterfowl hunting in Uruguay and Argentina so good?
Both countries feature an A+ habitat for reproduction, with far fewer predators to bird ratio than in North America. Combine that with a limited hunting season, and very few hunters per capita, and the result is a bonanza of wildfowl.
What kinds of species are available?
Uruguay duck species: Brazilian Ducks, Speckled Teal, Silver Teal, Ringed Teal, White-Faced Tree Ducks, Yellowbilled (Brown) Pintails, Rosybilled Pochards, and occasional Black-headed ducks, Chiloe Widgeon, and Red Shovelers.
Argentina Waterfowl Species: Magellan Geese, Ashy Head Geese, Chiloe Widgeon, Yellowbilled (Brown) Pintails, Silver Teal, Speckled Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Rosybilled Pochards, Red Shovelers, and an occasional White-Cheeked Pintail.
Upland species in Argentina and Uruguay: Tinamou, which is a partridge, locally called Perdiz. The Colorado, and Martineta are about the size of a sharptail, and the lesser Tinamou is slightly larger than a bobwhite quail. Wild Valley quail hunting is available in the Patagonia region of Argentina only.
Argentina also has big game available in the Bariloche region of Argentina. Please contact Los Gauchos about the red stag hunting available in Argentina.
How do I bring my birds home? Can I bring bird home from Argentina or Uruguay?
Due to changes in the export laws in Argentina and Uruguay, the taxidermy program is suspended until further notice.
You may find a taxidermist that is licensed to import birds from outside of the USA and have him or her supply you with the necessary paperwork, or you may have us bring the birds back for you for a $50 per bird fee.
Please remember that your birds will be inspected by U.S. Customs. We will not go there again…you know what to expect from them—there is no telling. I recently had them unwrap every single one of my twenty-eight birds that I declared, to look for illegal drugs—a process that took over an hour.
Because U.S. Customs inspectors are not trained in bird identification, they often refer clients to an inspection by U.S. Fish and Wildlife upon arrival in the USA, to ensure that none of the birds are protected. Often, on early morning international arrivals, the waiting time is an hour or more before the Fish and Wildlife inspectors get to work. We do not discourage you to bring your own birds back, but we must remind our guests that opt to bring their own birds back to allow ample time to make a subsequent connection because inter-agency delays and SNAFUS with foreign birds are more common than not. We cannot be responsible for missed connections.
One last reminder on bringing your birds back: the birds must be “properly packaged” in a cooler, which will count as an extra bag with the airlines, and subject to a $100 charge unless you only have one bag. Well-made plastic coolers such as Igloos and Coleman are difficult to find, and twice as expensive in South America. If you choose to take your own birds, we recommend you bring a cooler from the USA.
Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions about the Accommodations and Lodges in Argentina and Uruguay
We limit our occupancy to six guests per week in our Argentina (double occupancy) waterfowl and upland hunting lodges.
This six hunter limit is standard for non-private groups, and the lower number ensures a quality experience for mixed parties.
For private parties, or corporate groups, we can easily accommodate up to eight guests per week.
Typically, the drives to the hunting in Argentina are less than 40 minutes, but sometimes they can be up to an hour. We use comfortable SUV’s, quad-cab trucks, or vans to transport hunters.
The Argentina wingshooting lodges located in Cordoba can host up to 16 guests per dove hunting trip. Again, this is based on double occupancy rooms; however, the large estancias in Cordoba do allow single rooms for an extra fee and if available during your Argentina dove hunting trip.
The drive time to the fields in Cordoba are less than 15 minutes.
The Uruguay duck hunting lodge or Rio Branco Lodge in Uruguay can host up to 8 duck hunters per week.
In Uruguay, our furthest blind is only 25 minutes from the house!
Uruguay wingshooting estancias can host up to 12 dove hunters per week and the time to the fields is about 20-30 minutes.
Will we have free access to the internet?
Most of our South American hunting lodges have free internet access. Please inquire about your particular destination. The Uruguay Duck Hunting Club now offers internet service. Please remember you will be in hunting locations that are close to the waterfowl; so high speed service is not a common characteristic in Uruguay or Argentina.
How do you conduct your duck hunts in Argentina and Uruguay?
We use man-made cover as a blind when possible. They are the most comfortable, and with the use of a seat, provide the hunter with maximum swing. When natural cover is not available, we construct dry blinds made for two shooters—please see photo below.
All of our duck hunts in Uruguay take place over decoys, and with the assistance of professional guides, bird-boys and callers.
How do you hunt the Perdiz?
We operate our Perdiz rigs with one dog, two shooters, and a dog handler. Please see our Uruguay Perdiz hunting video with Beretta to get a full education by master outdoorsman Chris Dorsey and shotgunning authority, Steve Smith—who is also the editor of the Retriever Journal and the Pointing Dog Journal.
The Los Gauchos Uruguay Perdiz Hunting Video can be found here. Los Gauchos Outfitters now has our own You Tube channel with many good Perdiz hunting videos. Check them out on youtube.com/losgauchosoutfitters.
Do we hunt Perdiz over bird hunting dogs?
Yes, pointers and setters in Argentina and Uruguay, we have a Brittany in Uruguay as well.
Can we bring our own bird hunting dogs?
Yes, you can. If you decide you wish to do this, contact us for instructions for your veterinarian. Since our waterfowl season is summer in the USA and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, there are some very important considerations for you to take into account before making the decision.
It is very easy to get the dog into the country. However, the airlines are VERY restrictive about allowing a dog to travel if the forecast for you destination airport is going to be above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not for your early AM arrival in MIA, but for the whole day—in case your flights are late. You could get stuck in a terrible situation in which they deny travel to the pet, and then you are stuck in South America with the animal until the weather changes.
Bringing your pet to South America is a high risk event. We do not recommend it for obvious reasons.
What separates a good waterfowl hunting day from a bad one?
Fortunately, for the comfort of our clients and our business, bad days are rare. However, the following factors can have an adverse effect on the outcome of a waterfowl hunt:
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Very high winds are probably the worst. The geese fly very little, and ducks seek protected slews, creeks, and canals, or simply can’t make the flight from the roost to the rice field. For Perdiz hunts, the birds become very jittery and hold very tightly, and the scent conditions are destroyed for the dog.
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Thick fog. If the geese can't see your decoys through thick fog, you won’t shoot high-volume that day.
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Migration conditions: If I may quote The Duck Commander, “Three things move waterfowl: large temperature changes (weather fronts), rain (water levels), and gunfire." Although, gunfire is not a player where we hunt, we cannot control the weather. The numbers of birds in our area vary occasionally, but we are normally always able to drive to an area that produces productive hunting for our guests. We must! after all, that is what keeps us in business.
How much am I going to shoot? How many birds can I expect to kill?
The fact is, all Los Gauchos destinations offer HIGH VOLUME shooting for doves, ducks, geese, and/or pigeons. Our clients tell us that their expectations were met in over 90% of all cases for waterfowl and upland hunting, and 99% of the time for dove hunting.
How do things go wrong on these types of trips? What can I do to ensure my trip will be a positive and successful experience?
There is nothing worse for sportsmen, or later, for outfitters alike, not to have 100% of their questions answered satisfactorily before a single penny is invested.
Far and away, the Number One disaster that befalls traveling sportsmen every year is the inability to travel unexpectedly—for whatever reason. Those who fail to protect themselves by purchasing trip cancellation insurance often find it painful to learn that their outfitter cannot just stick them in his schedule next season.
For example, waterfowl hunting outfitters in South America that are worth their salt all operate at or near 100% occupancy due to the short seasons and the infeasibility of being able to provide a quality hunting experience to more than 6-8 guests per week. Therefore, any cancellation by a client and subsequent refund by the outfitter results in permanent lost revenue for the outfitter—especially when it occurs on short notice. When a client purchases trip cancellation insurance, he protects his investment.
It is not expensive, but well worth it when needed.
What type of clothing and equipment do I need to bring? Do I need to bring chest waders for duck hunting?
Please see our WHAT TO BRING link for complete information on packing and to find some links to retailers who sell quality sporting equipment that is suitable for: duck hunting in Argentina, and duck hunting in Uruguay. They also sell all of the clothing and equipment you will need for upland hunting in Argentina and/or Uruguay.
Chest waders are a must for duck hunting in Argentina and Uruguay. Even though we only have a few spots where hip boots won’t get the job done, they don’t work in those spots…and you will get wet and ruin your whole day of hunting if it is cold outside. Protect your investment by staying dry!
If I am thinking about organizing a group for an Argentina hunting trip, or one of your Uruguay hunting trips, what is the most important thing to do to ensure a successful trip for myself and my friends and/or family?
As a group leader we ask that you be sure to share as much information about this trip as possible to the others in the party. Make sure that they understand the cancellation / refund policy, and are aware that they should purchase trip cancellation insurance in order to protect themselves from financial loss in the event that something unexpected comes along and interrupts their plans.
We insist on speaking to every member of every one of our groups to ensure that their questions are answered to their satisfaction. What do I need to bring? What do I need to know about hunting in Argentina, or hunting in Uruguay?
In addition, the following questions are nice to have answered by your outfitter, no matter whom you choose to book with:
"My expectations of this trip are_________, what kind of feedback can you give me with regards to these expectations?"
Are these realistic expectations? Do you as an agent or outfitter guarantee any set number of birds, or shot opportunities?
How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?
The cost of the insurance is a function of your age (since medical conditions are the number one reason for cancellations), and how much the trip costs. Typically 5% of the total trip cost will come close.
