To farmers, the Eared Dove (Zenaida Auriculata) of Argentina can become a major nuisance, causing millions of dollars of crop damage each year. For hunters, however, this speedy little bird presents one of the most enjoyable big-bag shooting opportunities in the world.

As numerous as pigeons in the United States, these doves apparently live only to eat and mate, which is not bad work if you can get it. Although rabbits breed approximately 5 times a year, the busy Eared Dove can reproduce up to 7 times in 12 months, as long as there is enough food in the surrounding area.

With millions of doves in the region, the serious wingshooter should consider taking a hunting trip to the city of Cordoba. Because the Department of Agriculture considers this bird to be a pest, Argentina's government has no set limits on how many Eared Doves you can shoot while you are visiting Cordoba.

With no bag limits and a sky filled with beautiful birds, hunters in Cordoba reportedly fire between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds in a single day. When the Eared Doves are flying thick and heavy, it's pretty easy to spend a day just aiming, shooting and reloading.

Although Cordoba has very pleasant weather for most of the year, the summer months (January through March) are among the best times to travel to this hunting paradise. Rain is fairly common in the evening, though, so packing a waterproof jacket along with the rifle is a good strategic move.

Traveling to Cordoba by air does require a little planning, though. Instead of a direct flight, consider flying into the capital city of Buenos Aires and then catch a connecting flight to Cordoba. Thanks to its reputation as a dove hunting paradise, Cordoba has some great hunting lodges where you can relax after a successful day of big-bag shooting. Many hotels and lodges also have Internet connections if you need to reconnect with the outside world.

With beautiful surroundings and plenty of winged targets, hunting the Eared Dove in Cordoba is almost like shooting fish in a barrel.

Resources:

http://www.argentinadovehunting.com/argentinagamebirds.htm
http://www.cordobadovehunting.com/dove-hunting-tips.html
http://www.gaje.org/Conf06/TravelToCordoba.htm