Chip Hunnicutt
Active member
Figured this was the place to put this so here goes.
I'm ten days back from hunting red stag in Argentina, a hunt put together by FE Outrider. This came across my desk back in November in an FEO email (if you're not getting these, fix that). They had a couple lodge options but after a long call w/ Tony (dude can talk) it became apparent there was no other choice but Tupungato. Due to work obligations I couldn't make the rut but could make the last week of the season, May 4-9.
I killed a giant in New Zealand, one in Spain and two in Slovakia. I was well aware of Argentina but knowing what NZ cost me, I wasn't anxious about it. The FEO price was right and left budget room for an upgraded animal. I've already done two trips with FEO - Running of the Bulls last year and their Georgia Quail Hunt a couple months ago, plus Australia last year which wasn't an FEO trip but was a result of their 2024 hunt report - so I was confident that the trip would be prime.
I opted to travel early and spend two nights in Buenos Aires. It's not what I thought it would be. My advice, skip it. Spend the time in Mendoza. BA is sketchy at best, while Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina and a beautiful place.
A 90-min luxury shuttle to the Tupungato lodge took us out of Mendoza, through countryside and villages, before coming up a rise overlooking a gorgeous wine valley with the Andes as the backdrop. We (just one other hunter in camp, Marine vet from Florida, former Chief Shooting Instructor for Nat'l Sporting Clays Assoc) were handed off to a guide at the property entrance. It was a couple of miles winding through a walnut grove and vineyard to arrive at the lodge. It was classy, stunning.
My room was great. Plenty of space for gear, private bathroom. Food was fantastic. Appetizers, lot of variety with the meals, and the wine was the best I've had.
The lodge operators spoke English while the help spoke none. All were extremely friendly, accommodating and excited to have us. The weather all week was spectacular but expected to turn for the worst by the end of the week. This was evident by the wind - it was blowing 15-20 with higher gusts all week. Snow appeared on the mountains the second morning and by the day we left, we had snow at the lodge.
My guide didn't speak much English. Didn't matter. Between hand gestures and the general language common among hunters, we understood each other. When I wanted his estimate on a stag's score I'd pull out my phone, show a photo of the upgrade chart with size ranges and he'd point to the range.
Even being post-rut and end of the season we saw a lot of animals. And they were all giants. The hunt price included a stag up to 340 SCI but we never saw any that "small". The stag I eventually took green scored 464" and had about 10" of broken tines.
I intended to take one with a bow. After New Zealand I felt confident that one day I'd like to try it. We got close several times but the wind was wicked tough and busted us every time. The second to last day I borrowed a ranch rifle. Decent gun, .300 Win Mag, decent optic (can't recall brands). The rifle did not fit me well and my shot was from prone so I wound up getting a gold medal scoping, seriously I've never seen so much of my own blood, but it made a helluva photo.
That's the broad strokes on a great trip. Thank you to Tony, Jeff and FEO for putting it together. I've got zero interest in traveling that far for wingshooting (I like horns and claws) but stag? I would absolutely do this trip again.
I'm ten days back from hunting red stag in Argentina, a hunt put together by FE Outrider. This came across my desk back in November in an FEO email (if you're not getting these, fix that). They had a couple lodge options but after a long call w/ Tony (dude can talk) it became apparent there was no other choice but Tupungato. Due to work obligations I couldn't make the rut but could make the last week of the season, May 4-9.
I killed a giant in New Zealand, one in Spain and two in Slovakia. I was well aware of Argentina but knowing what NZ cost me, I wasn't anxious about it. The FEO price was right and left budget room for an upgraded animal. I've already done two trips with FEO - Running of the Bulls last year and their Georgia Quail Hunt a couple months ago, plus Australia last year which wasn't an FEO trip but was a result of their 2024 hunt report - so I was confident that the trip would be prime.
I opted to travel early and spend two nights in Buenos Aires. It's not what I thought it would be. My advice, skip it. Spend the time in Mendoza. BA is sketchy at best, while Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina and a beautiful place.
A 90-min luxury shuttle to the Tupungato lodge took us out of Mendoza, through countryside and villages, before coming up a rise overlooking a gorgeous wine valley with the Andes as the backdrop. We (just one other hunter in camp, Marine vet from Florida, former Chief Shooting Instructor for Nat'l Sporting Clays Assoc) were handed off to a guide at the property entrance. It was a couple of miles winding through a walnut grove and vineyard to arrive at the lodge. It was classy, stunning.
My room was great. Plenty of space for gear, private bathroom. Food was fantastic. Appetizers, lot of variety with the meals, and the wine was the best I've had.
The lodge operators spoke English while the help spoke none. All were extremely friendly, accommodating and excited to have us. The weather all week was spectacular but expected to turn for the worst by the end of the week. This was evident by the wind - it was blowing 15-20 with higher gusts all week. Snow appeared on the mountains the second morning and by the day we left, we had snow at the lodge.
My guide didn't speak much English. Didn't matter. Between hand gestures and the general language common among hunters, we understood each other. When I wanted his estimate on a stag's score I'd pull out my phone, show a photo of the upgrade chart with size ranges and he'd point to the range.
Even being post-rut and end of the season we saw a lot of animals. And they were all giants. The hunt price included a stag up to 340 SCI but we never saw any that "small". The stag I eventually took green scored 464" and had about 10" of broken tines.
I intended to take one with a bow. After New Zealand I felt confident that one day I'd like to try it. We got close several times but the wind was wicked tough and busted us every time. The second to last day I borrowed a ranch rifle. Decent gun, .300 Win Mag, decent optic (can't recall brands). The rifle did not fit me well and my shot was from prone so I wound up getting a gold medal scoping, seriously I've never seen so much of my own blood, but it made a helluva photo.
That's the broad strokes on a great trip. Thank you to Tony, Jeff and FEO for putting it together. I've got zero interest in traveling that far for wingshooting (I like horns and claws) but stag? I would absolutely do this trip again.
Official member of the FE Outrider Bloody Forehead Society since May 2, 2026
