Best Lodges to Hunt Red Stag in Argentina: 7 Things to Check
Updated: 1 day ago
The best lodges to hunt red stag in Argentina share a few things: free range land measured in tens of thousands of acres, a wild herd with a long history, one guide per hunter, owners who are present during your hunt, and a clear list of what is included. Most of them are in La Pampa and northern Patagonia.
We run one of those lodges, Poitahue Hunting Ranch in La Pampa, so we are not neutral. What we can offer is 20 years of seeing what makes hunters go home happy and what makes them feel they chose wrong. Use this checklist with any lodge you are considering, including ours.
Where the Red Stag Lodges Are
Region | Terrain | Hunting style | Access |
La Pampa | Flat to rolling caldén forest and open grassland | Spot and stalk on foot, calling distance encounters during the roar | Flight or charter from Buenos Aires to Santa Rosa, then a short drive |
Northern Patagonia and the Andes foothills | Mountains, steppe and river valleys | Long glassing sessions, more climbing, longer shots | Domestic flight to a Patagonian airport, then a longer drive |
Buenos Aires province | Farmland and smaller wooded properties | Shorter hunts, often on estates | By road from Buenos Aires |
La Pampa is where red deer were first released in Argentina in the early 1900s. The herds here have been wild for more than a century, and the thick caldén forest is the reason the roar in La Pampa is hunted so close.
Seven Things the Best Red Stag Lodges Have in Common
1. Real free range hunting
Ask directly: is the stag I will hunt living on open land or inside a high fence? Both exist in Argentina, and both are sold as "hunting." A free range stag has learned to avoid people, uses the wind and can leave the property. That is what makes the hunt fair chase.
2. Enough land
Acreage tells you how much pressure the animals receive. A lodge with a lot of land can rest areas between hunters. At Poitahue we hunt more than 80,000 acres of natural land.
3. One guide per hunter
A red stag stalk is quiet, close work. Two hunters sharing a guide means half the opportunities. Our hunts are always one guide for each hunter, on foot.
4. Dates inside the roar
The roar happens in March and April. A lodge that offers you "red stag season" dates far outside those weeks is offering a different hunt. Good lodges fill their roar weeks early, often a year ahead.
5. Owners at the lodge
When the people who own the land are at the table with you every night, problems get solved the same day. Ask who will host you. At Poitahue our co-owners manage the lodge and the sales, and our field manager runs the guides.
6. A clear program, in writing
You should receive a list of what is included and what is not before you pay anything. Our article on hunting packages in Argentina shows the complete list for our programs and the questions to ask.
7. A track record you can check
Look for hunters who came back. Look for lodges that show up every year at the big conventions, where you can meet the owners in person. We exhibit at the SCI convention and at the Dallas Safari Club convention, and over the years we have hosted Craig Boddington, Jim and Eva Shockey, Joe Thomas, Doug Koenig, Gus Congemi and Brian "Pigman" Quaca. Several of those hunts were filmed, and you can watch them on our blog.
Red Flags When You Compare Lodges
No straight answer about fences or acreage.
A guaranteed trophy score on a "free range" hunt.
A price with no list of exclusions.
No way to speak with past hunters or meet the outfitter.
Pressure to pay quickly because "it is the last spot."
What Kind of Lodge Is Poitahue?
Poitahue is a family ranch operation in La Pampa with two properties: Poitahue Ranch, our free range ground, and Monasterio Ranch, a preserve. We tell every hunter which property and which type of hunt each program takes place on.
Free range red stag: 6 nights and 5 1/2 hunting days for one free range stag, the best you can take. See red stag hunts.
Trophy stags: 3 to 5 hunting days for a trophy red stag up to 340 SCI, with larger stags on request. See world class stags.
Bowhunting: Poitahue is managed and run by bowhunters. See our bowhunting program.
More than red stag: water buffalo, blackbuck, fallow deer, axis deer and other species, plus dove and pigeon shooting at the same location.
The lodge is estancia style, with double occupancy rooms, private bathrooms, four meals a day and Argentine wines included.
If you are still at the planning stage, our guide to Argentina hunting trips covers seasons, flights and gun permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best red stag hunting lodges in Argentina?
Most are in La Pampa and in northern Patagonia. La Pampa offers close range hunting in caldén forest during the roar. Patagonia offers mountain terrain and longer shots.
What is the difference between free range and high fence red stag hunting?
Free range stags live on open land and can leave the property. High fence or preserve stags live inside an enclosure. Ask every lodge which type of hunt each program is.
When should I book a red stag lodge in Argentina?
The roar is in March and April, and the best weeks are usually reserved about a year ahead.
How many hunters does each guide take?
At Poitahue, one. Every hunter has a personal guide and hunts spot and stalk on foot.
Can I hunt other species at a red stag lodge?
At Poitahue you can add water buffalo, blackbuck, fallow deer, axis deer and other species, plus dove and pigeon shooting.
Talk to the Owners
Send us your questions, including the hard ones on this list. Contact us and we will answer them ourselves.
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