One will only find Perdiz (Lesser Tinamou) while upland bird hunting in South America, and Argentina is one of the best counties for one to experience great Perdiz hunting in the “Land of the Southern Cross”.
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One will only find Perdiz (Lesser Tinamou) while upland bird hunting in South America, and Argentina is one of the best counties for one to experience great Perdiz hunting in the “Land of the Southern Cross”.
The Perdiz comes in three shapes and sizes: The Lesser Tinamou (which is slightly larger than a Bobwhite quail), the Colorado, and the Martineta. The Colorado is almost indistinguishable from the Lesser, except for its larger body mass. The Colorado is roughly the same size as a Sharptail Grouse. Finally, the Martineta is the most recognizable, as it has a fleur-de-lis type headdress that stands out boldly.
One should check with their Argentina hunting outfitters before shooting the Colorado and Martineta species, as they are protected in many provinces of Argentina. It should also be noted that in the areas where they can be legally taken, they are not nearly as abundant as the Lesser Tinamou (which is simply called a Perdiz), which always makes up about 90% of the bag.
Most South America bird hunting outfitters do not offer exclusive Perdiz hunting packages. Perdiz hunts are normally offered in combination with Argentina duck hunting, Argentina dove hunting, and decoyed pigeon shooting.
The best time of day to hunt Perdiz is in the morning, with a little bit of fresh dew on the ground, and a light breeze. These conditions are best for upland bird hunting since the dogs are able to best detect the scent of the Perdiz, and this is the time of day where the Perdiz are most active. The Perdiz is not a bird that travels in large groups, so one will rarely find what would be considered a covey, however, two birds can often be found mating—resulting in a double flush.
Once the Perdiz has jumped to flight, it normally punches out low and hard, but occasionally leaps high in the air, hoping to catch a brisk wind to abet the escape. In either case, the birds’ wings move a lot of air, which will startle even the most seasoned upland bird hunter.
Like Peridz everywhere, the Argentina Perdiz makes great table fare. His or her pure white meat tastes just like a quail and there is generous portion on each and every bird. They are sometimes pan fried, but more often than not they find their way to the parilla (which is the BBQ grill) where they are prepared as just one of many grilled meats that make up the traditional asado (the asado is the term for all of the barbecued meats that make up the feast).
Wingshooting in Argentina is an experience that one must truly experience to comprehend. Belay that, bird hunting in Argentina just needs to be put on the top of the “must do” hunting trips for any serious wingshooter—but beware, after you take your first trip, it might become a yearly love affair that you will not want to do without.
It is important to note that Perdiz do not only have to be combined with other types of Argentina mixed bag hunting—Perdiz hunting can be combined with Argentina fishing, or fishing trips in Uruguay, making up the perfect Cast & Blast. Whether you seek big sea run brown trout in Tierra del Fuego, or rainbow trout in Patagonia on the fly, Argentina has it all. Even combinations for the big freshwater dorado can be combined with a Perdiz hunt in Uruguay. The dorado fishing in Uruguay is second to none, so if you like to trade your scattergun in for a rod and reel, give one of our Argentina outfitters a call, and let them expertly plan a customized trip that will fit into your expectations and budget.
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