So one question would be " Why does Nicaragua not get noticed more for it's Duck and Dove hunting?" Being part of a great outfitter for duck and dove hunting in Nicaragua, I think I can shed some light on this. First, most of the
outfitters in Nicaragua, are local guys who have been doing this all of their life, or for most of it. They are still working out of the 1960's attitude of word of mouth, and using booking agents. Most of them do not know a lot about the internet, SEO, and marketing in this digital age. So they do not spend much time or money on marketing the internet. Now, in the last few years, you have seen a large increase in booking agents, who can see the hidden treasure that Nicaragua can offer to hunters, and you are seeing more and more coverage every year.
So with Argentina being a very heavily marketed place for high volume shooting, along with the great influx of outfitters who have sprung up out of the woodwork there, you can see that it overshadows Nicaragua in the lime light. Is that a bad thing? Not really, I would not want to see what has happened to Argentina, happen here in Nicaragua. Which brings me to another fact of why we are not on the walk of fame yet. Nicaraguan government only allows a certain number of outfitter licenses out for the whole country. At this time, its only 4 or maybe 5 at the most. No one else can apply. The quota is full already. So, that protects us from being swamped by countless outfitters, wanting to cash in.
" Why would you want to hunt ducks and doves in Nicaragua?"
Well here is your answer:
If hunting in the Managua, Granada area, you are most likely not staying in a lodge. I know with us, you stay in some of the finest hotels in the city. This affords you the luxury that you will not get in the common hunting lodge. Not saying that some lodges are not luxurious. Just saying that you have room service, swimming pools, bars, spas, relaxing time, and high speed internet to keep up with your business or home. Staying in the city gives you the opportunity of a vast array of activities to enjoy when you are not hunting. Night clubs, casinos, spas, theaters, malls, bars, bands, shows, all within short distance of your hotel. Choose from the finest restaurants with different choices each night. See and enjoy the culture of the people and places. Most of these things you can not get in a
remote hunting lodge, with not much opportunity to do other things.
With time away from home and work being more and more important nowadays, you find that the 12 hour flight to Argentina, the layovers, the switching transports, makes it a big deal to get to the hunting lodge. The travel along can add up to two days to a 3 day hunt. I find more and more hunters who contact me, that have been to Argentina, and absolutely loved it, but do not want to go through that long flight again. They are willing to sacrifice the harvest numbers for the easier flights. Plus, harvesting 300 to 350 doves in a day, or 25 to 30 ducks in a morning, is still some amazing numbers.
More Economical
While there is not a lot of price difference between Argentina and Nicaragua for a 3 day hunt, the flights are a big savings. An average round trip / non - stop / economy flight from Houston or Miami is around $ 500 to $ 600.00 dollars according to how early you book the tickets. Business class not being that much more at around $ 750.00 to $ 800.00. First class tickets are not available. Compare that to round trip tickets to Argentina, and all of your transfers to get to the lodge, and it's a nice savings.
Nicaragua, and especially Managua, Granada, and San Juan Del Sur, hold some of the worlds greatest Historic and Eco tourism sites in the world. Having some of the world’s still active volcanoes, largest fresh water lake (Lake Managua) in all of Central America. Granada with its colonial architecture. San Juan Del Sur with its world class surfing and beaches, Eco tours, hiking, horseback riding, volcano surfing, volcano tours, bird watching, ATV tours, hiking, turtle watching, island hopping, large malls, spas. Little Corn Island with its world class diving, Emerald Coast with its world class golf course, and that is just some. Wives, children can find way more than enough to do, while the guys are hunting. All at affordable prices.
Oh, and did I mention the amazing fishing. Some of the best Tarpon fishing in the world, not to mention the Pacific and Caribbean coasts which are a gold mine of untapped fisheries for big bill fish.