The province of Cordoba in northern Argentina has long been considered the dove-shooting capital of the world. Thousands of wing shooting enthusiasts annually flock to the province which is home to millions and millions of doves, primarily of the zenaida auriculata species. And as this particular dove is not migratory and can reproduce up to four times a year, the population is constantly replenishing itself and therefore provides unparalleled shooting opportunities at any time of the year. The doves feed primarily on wheat, sorghum and corn which are in plentiful supply on the flatish terrain. It’s possible to shoot over 1,000 doves per day or more depending on ability and stamina. Some hunters fire off up to 2,000 shells a day, hence the term high-volume shooting. And the weather is perfect as the province enjoys over 300 sunny days a year.

The are plenty of shooting lodges scattered throughout Cordoba province which offer all-day dove hunting while providing exceptional accommodation, field guides and field assistants who dole out the shells and gather up the birds. Most lodges tend to donate most of each day’s yield to the locals. A typical shooting day starts around 8am after a hearty breakfast and continues until midday, when a lunch is served, only to start again around 2.30pm to close just before it gets really dark, and back to the lodge for dinner. As well as doves it’s possible to shoot many species of ducks, pigeons and partridge and although doves can be shot year round, the season for pigeons runs from March to October and for ducks and partridges from May to August.