If you’ve clicked on this post, I’m confident that you’ve done a lot of homework. You’ve learned that Uruguay (UY) is an excellent safe venue, with easy travel from the US. You’ve learned that UY is the genesis of the fabled mixed bag wingshooting. You’re tired of pounding dove for four days in the neighboring country and you are looking for something more diverse. Perhaps you’ve decided to give UY a try, but now you have the dilemma of choosing the right outfitter? Well, as to evaluating Uruguay’s Outfitting Industry, you will find this post to be brutally honest, but we think it is both necessary and appropriate.
Let me begin by apologizing to my fellow outfitters that operate in UY. My intent is not to generally disparage anyone, but as the saying goes “buyer beware”. UY doesn’t have a plethora of outfitters when compared to the US. Just google US duck hunters and it would take hours to pour through all the listings. While there are a handful of very high-end outfitters, unfortunately, there are many who come and go, all while taking your hard earned money and valuable time.
Bad Behavior:
Every year, we hear the horror stories. Outfitters that have cheap eastern block guns that fail every other shell. Bird boys are running around frantically spitting gasoline down barrels and magazines, hoping to get a few minutes without a jam. Cheap, dirty shells that leave blow gunpowder into clients eyes also makes the list. Often, we hear the outfitter hadn’t procured shells and rationed them to clients. Some hire guides off the street that know absolutely nothing about hunting, much less working bird dogs for perdiz. The list is long and space doesn’t allow to continue such bad behaviors.
Let’s face it, this isn’t a situation where your buddy invites you to an opening dove shoot thirty minutes from your house. This is an overnight flight, to a foreign country and it costs a lot money. We see many hunters that have made a poor choice in their outfitter, but once you are in country, you are captive to the whiles of your host… good, bad and yes, ugly.
It begs the question, why is it a common occurrence to have poor and perhaps dishonest outfitter in UY? In a word, CAPITAL. Farmland in Uruguay is expensive and generally on par with US farmland. Almost all UY outfitters lease land for their lodging operations and hunting venues. This is analogous to many US deer and waterfowl outfitters as most lease their hunting lands and their lodging, or you are required to stay in a hotel. As such, even at the high rates many charge, the margins are thin and very few are sustainable. Also, it is very difficult for a native outfitter to get top shelf shotguns, much less to be able to afford the high import tariff. Not to mention the lack of proper gun maintenance that is almost universal, clean it with gasoline!
The American Option:
To the best of our knowledge, Closway – San Jose Lodge Outfitters is the ONLY American OWNED and operated outfitter in UY. Are we always flawless? No. Are we for everybody? No. But the difference in being American owned and operated is reflected in our operating philosophy and in our client satisfaction. How so?
We own and operate the 2,200-acre San Jose Ranch as a successful row crop and cattle operation. Our outfitting operation is primarily intended to be a financial benefit to our staff, not a primary revenue stream for the Ranch operation. Accordingly, we can charge the most affordable and only all-inclusive rate in UY. Unlike nearly all other native outfitters, fortunately we are not dependent on outfitting revenue for our livelihood and we will NEVER be in a situation where we have to make a selfish financial choice over our obligations to our clients. Period. Be assured that our character and reputation is our sole concern and we would never comprise the same just to make a dollar.
While we believe owning and operating our outfitting operation is sufficient cause to be preferred by prospective clients, being American owned and operated translates into many tangible benefits. We carry only top drawer, modern firearms such as Beretta and Benelli, just like you have here in the good ole USA. We are fastidious in the cleaning and care of our firearms, using the customary US methods. No gasoline ever touches our firearms. Then there are our shells. We only use premium, clean burning shells. More importantly, we maintain an additional season’s allotment of shells in storage so that we will never run low on shells in a given season.
We love and appreciate the Uruguayan culture and norms and want to make sure our guests experience this unique opportunity. However, as life-long hoteliers, we make sure that our guests have all the expected American accruements such as premium bedding, linens, pillows, hot showers and electric converters in your room. We want you to feel that you are home.
As a previous client of some of Uruguay’s high-end outfitters, I was troubled with the lack of disclosure and “add-ons” at check out. This expensive “a la carte” method is common throughout South America, and sticker shock at check out is a common experience. From day one, we decided that we would be an all-inclusive outfitter so that our guests know exactly what their stay will cost. We include all transportation, gun rental, lodging, meals, daily maid service and a generous shell allotment in our daily rate. The only additional costs our guest will experience is their government hunting license fee, additional shells if desired and tips. We have found that we are nearly 40% less than comparable outfitters.
Another difference of note is our hunting volume. We intentionally limit the volume of our guests so that we put very little pressure on our game species. We are about sustainable species management and you won’t ever be taken to a shot out duck hole, like the high-volume outfitters in country.
We’ve established why being American owned and operated matters and why we are arguably the best value in UY, but what about the hunting. In a word, phenomenal! As we limit the volume of guests we accept each year, our hunts are second to none. Our guests feel that we have the best mixed bag hunting in Uruguay, be it high volume dove, perdiz, ducks or pigeons.
So are we perfect? No. Circumstances happen, but they are rare and we work tirelessly to anticipate every challenge. Rain, for example, can be a challenge, but we’ve always found a way to work around it with willing guests. Other outfitters? You will spend the day in the Lodge. We make mistakes, but you won’t find anyone who will quickly correct mistakes and make it right.
Your Home Away from Home:
For transparency, we must relate that while we are unapparelled in affordability, service and game opportunities, we are not a white glove operation. Our lodging is excellent, but we aren’t trying to be the Ritz Carlton like many of UY’s high end outfitters. We have no infinity pools or $50 specialty martinis. If this is what you are looking for, there are several options in country and they are priced accordingly.
Do yourself a favor, when you are evaluating competitive outfitters, ask them questions such as have been raised in this post. You may get an evasive response and unfortunately, perhaps a response that is not based on fact.
At Closaway – San Jose Lode outfitters, we feel that we are the best choice for our prospective clients. We hope that this post will lead you to the same conclusion. We respect that you have a choice, and we would be honored to be considered. By the way, if you choose another outfitter and learn that it was a mistake, we would be honored to be considered for your next trip. We get a lot of clients that way!
