> ABOUT HUNTING

Uruguay is known for its rich bird life, and the abundance of waterfowl is no exception. The country has its own native duck species, which are very numerous, and different in most cases from those that exist in the Northern Hemisphere.  Four species of ducks can be regularly found in the Lake Merin Outfitters selected areas: teal, two species of whistling ducks, and finally the famous rosy-billed pochard.

One of our ducks is the yellow-billed pintail (Anas georgica), also known as brown pintail, or “Corn Duck”. It is a strong flying prairie duck, brownish in color with a beak that’s bright yellow with a black line along the top.  The pintail likes to fly in pairs, as well as in big flocks. It has a distinct whistle-like call. “Yellowbills” like to fly fast and dive into the decoys from high altitude. 

There are three species of whistling-ducks in Uruguay and two are very common in our area. Three decades ago they were almost non-existent here, but with the habitat change (due to substantial rainfall increase), and the many grain-fields, these long necked ducks are now seen everywhere. They are unmistakable from a distance, and whistling ducks can be recognized in flight by their larger wings and the way they extend their legs back underneath their tails, as well as by their very distinct and loud whistling call. The white-faced whistling-duck (Dendrocygna viduata) maybe a bit more common than its cousin, the fulvous whistling-duck (Dendrocygna bicolor). “Whitefaces” are handsome ducks with their chestnut breasts and the white spot covering face and throat. They will usually fly in huge flocks and you will often see them resting on land, standing high—sort of like geese do. 

Finally, we have the king of all ducks in South America: the rosy-billed pochard (Netta peposaca). Fernando, one of the operation owners, loves the Rosybills, just as Alvaro and his Labs do. The “Rosybill” is a robust duck in a black costume with purple-gloss, with finely barred silver flanks and a bright pink beak that features a flaming red fleshy caruncle that matches its also flaming red eyes. The rosybill, as a pochard, is genetically related to the canvasback so much so that the hens in both species look very much alike. “Rosybills” are strong, super fast and exciting ducks, and you’ll see them in small groups as well as in large flocks. Their flight is very distinguishable from the distance due to their classic V formations, and they will attack decoy spreads decisively. Other species, as different teals and other may occasionally be seen, however these are the permanent four in the Lake Merin Outfitters selected areas.

One of the main reasons why Uruguay duck populations are so abundant and hunting is so satisfying is the fact that hunting pressure, for all practical purposes, is almost non-existent. This would necessarily lead to the thought that in Uruguay, unlike the U.S., duck hunting has not been in their tradition as much as upland bird hunting (two types of perdiz), small game (hares) and big game (various deer, feral hogs and wild boars). In Uruguay duck-hunting pressure from locals virtually non-existent. Therefore the only hunting pressure there is comes from visiting hunters. And this means that actual overall duck hunting pressure in Uruguay is, by any standards, very low.

Come and experience the amazing duck hunting that Uruguay has to offer!.