Across the Universe

[prashantsingh]

As I sit down to write this post with the FM Rainbow (AIR-Radio) playing in the background, someone requests for an old Beatles number "Across the Universe".
That's the name I take for my personal outdoors experience which concluded recently from a remote hunting reserve on the other end of our planet. A lesser known place 50 miles from the town of Santa Rosa in the state of La Pampa. Argentina. 15000 hectares of Wilderness.
La Pampa truly lives up to it's name. La-The Pampa-Flat Land.
I expected this to be a hunt similar to my previous one in Africa. But it turned out very different as I shall narrate in the days to come.
I assumed the Pampas would be as open and flat as the African Savana.
They are.
In places where the forests have been cleared to make space for Cattle farms and Aggriculture.
In places where the jungles still remain the story is totally different.
I will try to avoid the hunting snaps as they may hurt the feeling of members like Rajat, hvj1 and Grewal. To make the post more readable for everyone. Hunters and Non Hunters.
To me hunting is not just the act of killing. It is much more than that. It is spending time in the wilderness . Riding horses in the open neverending Pampas. Enjoying nature and getting as close to the animals as possible. Animals in their natural habitat. Hunting abroad gives me an opportunity to do all this , along with experiencing different cultures and cuisines.

[Vikram]

Prashant,

You went to Argentina to hunt?Congratulations.I can imagine the fabulous experience.I will be looking forward very eagerly to your reports and photographs.Keep doing it,my friend.

Best-
Vikram

[shooter]

I will try to avoid the hunting snaps as they may hurt the feeling of members like Rajat, hvj1 and Grewal.

Dear Prashant,
please post your pics as there are many more who would like to see your pics. There is no compulsion for anybody to see 'em if one minds.

Or You could put a warning in the header.

[357 S&W]

Prashant, Please do post your pics, there's no hard rule for people to watch them if they feel they are offended. For that every reason ee have a separate section for such activities and we all would benefit with your experience as I too plan to go to Argentina with my friends next year.

I suggest members who are offended please do not check these topics under "outdoors" as you know what's in store; please visit other sections of the forum where there's a wealth of info for them too. Peace.

[Vikram]

I will try to avoid the hunting snaps as they may hurt the feeling of members like Rajat, hvj1 and Grewal.

Dear Prashant,
please post your pics as there are many more who would like to see your pics. There is no compulsion for anybody to see 'em if one minds.

Or You could put a warning in the header.

+1

[prashantsingh]

Jet lagged.
Waking up in the middle of the night. It's 2:30 a.m.
Argentina offers a wide varienty of game animals in it's hunting reserves. Also a variety of weapons you can shoot with. From Bow hunting to Rifle and Shotgun.
The game birds are Dove , Geese and Ducks (in season).
Their Doves are much bigger in size than the ones we have in India.
The game animals are Multihorn Ram (a funny looking sheep with multiple horns coming out from the sides . the number may vary from 3 to 5),
wild goat (a stinky fellow). I smelt one from a distance much before actually coming up to him.
Axis (Cheetal / spotted deer) taken from India a hundred years ago. It has thrived there.
Black buck . Also taken from Inida around the same time and has done very well.
Water Buffalo . An animal which looks exactly like the "Bhains" which we see in every town in India. I was surprised at the high "trophy fee" on this animal.
Russian Wild Boar
Red Stag
and
Fallow (Dama) Deer.
Basically all animals which were brought in from other countries.
The only "local" animal one can shoot and export is the Puma.
Puma hunts are rather restricted and one can take an animal only if it becomes a confirmed cattle lifter.
The Argentinian Govt. is somewhat strange. They allow hunting in their Private reserves but they DO NOT allow the game meat to be sold in the open market. This is sad. Unlike Africa much of the Game meat here goes waste.I was shocked to see the skinners cuting out small portions of the back,neck and leg and leaving the rest for the scavengers. I was also surprised to see the number of vultures (which are very different from the ones we have) on the range. Probably it is an indicator of the socio-economic growth and status of the citizens of Argentina. A big nation with a population one tenth of ours.
Argentina is amongst the more expensive hunting destinations when compared to Africa. That's why this time I had a lesser number of animals on hunting list.
Another interesting thing is that the Trophy Fee varies from animalm to animal. i.e. if you bag a bigger trophy you pay more. An intersting concept to earn more money.
My first concern was the language. But a friend (Polo player) who had already been to Argentina gave me some very sound advice.
Argentina is the heaven for Polo. All Polo players and horse riders in India MUST go there for a short course. My outfitter himself is a 4 handicap Polo player. He was rather happy to meet a person (yours truly) from the country which gave the world--------- the King of all Games and the Game of the Kings(Polo).
This friend of mine told me to remember the two golden words.
1. Hola (hello)
and
2. Gracius (Thankyou).
I used them extensively and filled the gaps with English,Hindi and lots of sign language......and believe me guys . It worked.
I have yet to meet a civilization which uses "Thank You" so extensively.
There is also an interesting story about the Fallow Deer.
The Fallow and Red deer are the most common deer species in Argentina.
The Fallow is also called as the Dama Deer.
Dama in the local language means Lady . Probably derived from the English word Dame.
My professional hunter told me that in the Olden days the Red Stag hunts were reserved for the Kings.
The Fallow Deer were hunted by their ladies. Hence the Fallow came to be known as the Dama Deer.

[shooter]

The Fallow is also called as the Dama Deer.
Dama in the local language means Lady . Probably derived from the English word Dame.
My professional hunter told me that in the Olden days the Red Stag hunts were reserved for the Kings.
The Fallow Deer were hunted by their ladies. Hence the Fallow came to be known as the Dama Deer.

fallow deer's latin name is dama dama (genus dama, species dama). It is quite easily tamed and hence common in deer parks. Indigenous to mainland europe, it was brought to the isles by romans and now populates the isles as well. one of the first animals introduced to other country.

Today fallow can be found in africa usa and argentina.

eagerly awaiting your pics.

[Baljit]

Hi , Prashant , post your picture on the site so every one can enjoy your trip to Argentina , picture Please .


Baljit

[kragiesardar]

Pictures please Prashant. Always wanted to go there, maybe one day!

[prashantsingh]

Some snaps to start with.
A view of the Lodge inside

[shooter]

[prashantsingh]

Some more snaps

Interestingly the ladies were fantastic shots.
While the one on the right shot a Red Stag the one on the left (a radiologist) shot my Axis. I shall elaborate on the "my" Axis story later.
Check out the third snap and look for the professional hunter.

[TwoRivers]

The fallow deer is indigenous to the Mediteranian region, extending into the Middle East, but has been introduced to the European mainland and Britain. It probably had a name long before kings kept it in parks and the ladies petted them. And, no, the Spanish "dama" is not derived from the English "dame", but both from Latin.
Trophy fees according to the individual animal is pretty much the European model as well. The bigger the antlers, the higher the fee.
Argentina, by the way, has indigenous deer. The pampas deer (Odicoileus bezoarticus), the marsh deer (Odicoileus dichotomus), the guemal (Hippocampus sp.), and brocket deer (Mazama sp.). Some of these, however, have been pretty much displaced by the introduced species, farming, and cattle ranching, and have become rare or endangered.

Keep the story and pics coming Prashant!

[Baljit]

The Trophy on the wall are amazing , keep the pics. coming Prashnat

Baljit

[kragiesardar]

living the good life