ESTANCIA la bellaca

uruguay

RATES | TRAVEL | PHOTOS | TRIP DETAILS/GEAR

For the traveling wing shooter, the combination of volume decoyed pigeon gunning, perdiz hunting over dogs and high-volume dove shooting typically ranks very high on their list of desired hunts. Very few destinations in the world can offer this combination at a high level—such as provided at Luis and Carol Brown’s countryside mansion, La Bellaca. A lazy clear water stream meanders through the 2000 rolling acres of prime gamebird habitat with the lodge resting in the midst of winter wheat, sorghum, corn and soybean fields. This is the perfect perdiz environment, and attracts both spot-winged and picazuro pigeons in great numbers. Enormous roosts sheltering literally millions of eared doves are also found within an hour of the lodge. In addition, this immediate region offers many non-shooting activities, such as visits to lush vineyards, golf courses, horseback riding and more.

The shooting

Pigeon shooting takes place over harvested corn, soybeans or sorghum fields, usually right on the ranch property or on adjacent plantations. These European-style decoyed pigeon hunts are without equal, with limits of 250 rounds per hunter per half day fired from natural blinds as flocks of huge spot-winged and picazuro pigeons approach and then dive and dart into the spread of decoys.

Perdiz are hunted over careful pointing dogs—with a liberal limit of ten birds per half day hunt. These explosive birds hold well in cover that may be only ankle high. This is truly a gentleman’s sport, with highly trained bird dogs, a dynamic quarry, and beautiful surroundings.

Hunters may also opt for challenging high-volume gunning for eared doves, with no limits on birds or shells. The shooting platforms vary from pass shooting, hunting over waterholes and shooting over standing grain. 20-30 boxes per half day would be the norm.

In all cases, the fields and plantations are constantly scouted by experienced guides. (River Plate Outfitters has hunted this general area for more than 20 years.)

Accommodations

La Bellaca, created from using repurposed stone from nearby estancias, is more than just a wingshooting lodge. This ranch was built as a luxurious vacation home for the Luis Brown family to enjoy time away from the bustling city of Montevideo. Fully decorated and landscaped by renowned interior designer Carlo Raquet, the lodge is located only an hour’s drive from the stylish “Riviera of the South”—Punta del Este.

Away from the city life but still affording all the modern conveniences, La Bellaca boasts seven bedrooms with heated floors in the private bathrooms, both an indoor and outdoor living area and indoor and outdoor dining room with asado/barbeque area and beautiful views of the surrounding emerald hills. Service here is “white glove” and sincere personal attention is the goal of the staff. The lodge chef delights guests at each sitting, preparing inventive Uruguayan dishes of hand-made gnocchis (noquis) inventive empanadas, exotic pastas, famous South American beef asados and of course, wild game creations from the days’ outings.

non-shooting activities

La Bellaca is only one hour by car to both Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, and Punta del Este, the “Riviera of the South”, with its great beaches, sophisticated restaurants, spas, upscale shops, casinos and colorful nightlife.

Shooters or non-shooters may opt for activities such as visits to various local vineyards with wine tastings, golf in one of the local courses, visits to cathedrals or even Buddhist temples, spa treatments and massage, visits to sea lion colonies, horseback riding, hiking, museum-hopping, historical tours, strolling along the many beaches and of course, sampling Punta del Este’s or Montevideo’s many gastronomic delights.

Rates

$1290 / NIGHT 

The price includes accommodations, all meals, open bar, ground transportation from/to the Montevideo airport, all services of professional guides. The price does not include commercial air travel, shells at $19/box, gun rental at $80/day, hunting license/permit at $250 and tips.

PRIME TIME: May through July

Travel

American Airlines, Delta, LATAM and United offer flights from the U.S. to Montevideo Carrasco International Airport.

Once you are finished with Immigration and Customs you will be met by outfitter staff and driven one hour to Estancia La Bellaca. Alternately, guests may opt to fly to Buenos Aires and take a short connecting flight over to Montevideo.

Download important pre-trip details here:

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