Location: La Pampa, Argentina
Date: March 26- April 4, 2025
My wife Tara and I recently hosted an Outdoors International group for a free range red stag hunt that turned into an unforgettable saga, kicked off by a vibrant jaunt through Buenos Aires and now pointing toward a future fishing trip in Mexico. Our hunting posse was me, Tara, my buddy Mark Pearson, TJ Page, Sam Nevarez, Branden Smalley, Shane McGowne, Mark White, and Scott Tawzer. We took a two hour charter flight from Buenos Aires to the lodge in La Pampa. At the lodge, we met Jimmie and Isaac Powell, a father-son duo booked by the outfitter. Isaac, just out of high school, was on a gap-year odyssey with his dad to hunt six continents in one go—chasing Africa’s Big Five and bagging at least one trophy per continent. They were both incredible people, and Jimmie was brimming with tales.
This crew was a wild blend—hardcore hunters mixed with greenhorns, all united by the call to hunt roaring stags. The hunt launched with a roar. Day one, the stags were rutting hard, bellowing through the hills, and everyone had a chance to shine. Tara passed on a few stags, holding out for perfection. That night, a cold front swept in, and we braced for madness. Instead, the rut quieted—roars dwindled, and the stags ghosted us.
By week’s end, the scorecard was patchy, and our pants were covered in thorns… there are lots and lots of thorns. Tara, Sam, Mark White, and Shane came up stag-less. TJ shot a scrappy free range stag on the second-to-last day. Scott hit a big one but lost it after a tough search. Mark Pearson and Branden, chose to go hunting in the estate and dropped jaw-dropping 500+ inch stags—absolute beasts. Isaac scored a solid stag early, while Jimmie and I soaked it all up from the sidelines.
Mid-trip, most of us hit a ranch an hour away for blackbuck antelope. It was pure fun, like pronghorn hunting with a twist. Sam, Branden, Isaac, Scott, and I each took a stellar buck, and TJ doubled up with two. Then came the water buffalo hunts—Mark Pearson, Branden, and Isaac each felled massive bulls. I tagged along on Mark’s hunt, and we had a blast. In a stand-up move, Mark and Branden, bummed about Scott’s lost stag, gifted him a shot at the ranch’s biggest buffalo. Scott’s ear-to-ear grin was worth it—top-notch crew.
Before the hunt, Mark Pearson, TJ, Branden, Sam, Tara, and I kicked things off in Buenos Aires, diving headfirst into its electric pulse. We roamed the colorful streets of La Boca, marveling at the tango dancers swaying to accordions, and gorged on empanadas from hole-in-the-wall joints. The highlight? Dinner at Don Julio, the world’s second-best steakhouse. We sank our teeth into sizzling, melt-in-your-mouth bife de lomo, paired with bold Malbecs, under the glow of that iconic parrilla. The city’s chaos—honking taxis, street vendors hawking choripán, and the hum of Porteño life—set the perfect stage for the wild week ahead.
This trip lit a fire in us. The stags’ roars, the sting of the cold snap, and the brotherhood forged over wins and losses left most of the group hooked. We’re already scheming to rebook, and eyeing a big fishing trip to Mexico—rods in hand, chasing sailfish, dorado and roosterfish, with the same crew that made this one epic. Tara’s still plotting her stag comeback, and I’m ready for whatever’s next.
Outfitter Evaluation
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5 STARS
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GREAT
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GREAT
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GREAT
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MODERATE
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