Have Parker will travel

[MARK KIRCHER]

Hunting threads are few and far between this time of year so I am posting some old pics with recurring thoughts.

I have been fortunate enough to take two trips to Argentina – different venues but similar bird counts – essentially all you want. In retrospect I was a bit gluttonous, but I did restrain myself from counting and competitions to see who could stack up the most. Mostly is was just pure wing shooting without the normal breaks in between opportunities. We shot Doves, Pigeons, Ducks and Perdiz, but surprisingly, the most prized was the Parakeet! They live wild there and build nests around the telephone and electric wires on the poles. This causes failures and they are viewed as pests. I never saw bigger smiles or heard louder cheers from the guides or bird boys then when we knocked down one of the “keets.” It was all big fun and I would love to return someday.

What may prevent that from happening is the inability of taking a Parker. My first trip was in 2005 (pictures from this trip), I traveled with my 20 bore GHE 28” we flew into the Cordoba area. I remember it was smooth – customs was customs - we waited an hour or so but it was not a big deal. The next was in 2009 and things had tighten up considerably – the temperament was different. We were stopped on the highways at checkpoints and customs was not fun. I had “Connie” my 1903 20 bore DH 28” and I remember packing her carefully – I also remember the customs agent actually tossing it back in the travel case - when I reached out and commented I was reprimanded harshly. A disappointing memory from what was otherwise a special adventure.

Fast forward to 2015 and my two friends pictured in the tent photo with me went back again. They left with two guns. They returned with one. There is now an Ithaca Classic double somewhere between JFK and Argentina. A shame but a reality. I just don’t know if the political climate will ever allow me to return as I am a bit of a hard head. When I think of hunting I always think about my own gun(s). I have never really envision a hunt where I did not use my own iron. I would love to go back, but not at the expense of losing a Parker. We are still blessed here in the USA (actually all of North America) -boundless opportunities and relatively low stress for gun travel. I expect I will just hunt here for a while longer.

[Eric Eis]

I agree Mark, if I can't hunt with my guns half the enjoyment is gone.

[Brett Hoop]

I certainly understand! And that is the only reason I haven't gone.

[Rich Anderson]

I won't go anyplace that I can't use my own gun:nono:
Mark please consider joining us in Georgia for a Quail hunt. I know you'd enjoy it.

[David Dwyer]

Mark
I started going to Argentina in 2002 and it was fantastic. We went twice a year for ducks and quail with a couple of grease hunts thrown in . It all started changing about 2010:attitude, quality of service, regulations and hassle. My last two trips were just bad and will not return. I am going down to Mexico this Nov but have been advised to not even consider bringing a gun. Wish me luck
David

[Mills Morrison]

That is too bad. I would not entrust any of my favorite guns to the airlines. I agree with other posters that I want to use one of my own guns.

[Daryl Corona]

Not only do I want to use my own guns (Parker, Fox, etc.) I want to share the experience with my own dogs. It just ain't the same without either.

[Craig Larter]

I am with Daryl. We are fortunate to run our Labs and shoot our Parkers and Foxes on wild pheasants over the last couple of years. Smoke cigars, drink whiskey and talk guns, politics and other adult subjects over a log fire and uncountable stars in the clear sky of South Dakota. Life with good friends canine and human and good guns is a blessing from God.

[Bill Davis]

Consider going to Uruguay! Every bit as good as Argentina and taking guns is a simple process. Ive been twice and it was a wonderful experience. I've been to Argentina 10 times but stopped taking guns about 3 trips ago. Great perdiz hunting in Uruguay also and some good pigeon venues are developing.

[Reggie Bishop]

c.O.B. where at in Georgia?

[Richard Flanders]

A serious gun friend from Moab Utah went to Argentina for doves many years back and took his restored/restocked ideal grade(I think) 20ga LC Smith. He and a few others took 5500 doves in a few days and the ONLY gun still 100% operable in the end was the LC Smith. Every other gun of all sorts had totally or partially malfunctioned. I've seen the pictures; he had a pretty big grin on his face in the end and was pretty proud that his LC made it through. I suspect most any Parker in good shape would breeze through a trip like that with few if any issues.

[Bill Davis]

I've had a 16 and a 20 ga. M21 on trips to South America with me. Never an issue with either gun.

[Rich Anderson]

Reggie PM sent.

[MARK KIRCHER]

Rich -

I look forward to extending our conversations on hunting together. I am looking forward to making that happen sooner than later...... And I do enjoy a quail hunt!! If not quail we should chase some grouse!

We can firm things up in PA this summer! Wont be long now!

Mark

[Rich Anderson]

I look forward to it Mark. Grouse camp always carries an open invitation.

[Paul Ehlers]

I've been to Argentina multiple times for dove & pigeons. I've always taken my own guns with the thought of it wouldn't be the same without "My Guns"

As other have said the hassles of taking my guns has continually gotten harder with more hassles both on the Argentina end & the airlines. On one trip, LAN airlines messed up in Cordoba check-in & sent a friends Model-21 20ga & his Fox Sterlingworth ejector 20ga to Mexico city instead of Dallas. He was never able to recover those guns!!! I ended up finding a B. Rizzini 20ga Artemis with some poor storage issues for $800.00 I thought Oh boy perfect Argentina gun, if it gets lost no big deal. It's now made three trips without a hitch.

Now with all that said. I'm planning another Argentina adventure for 2018. This time though I wont be taking a gun with me & will rent one. The airport hassle alone makes it worth while to go this way, you just check in, kick back and enjoy the experience. I enjoy shooting Argentina and will continue to do so, but this is the one shooting venue where I'll put the abuse on someone else's guns.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I took my own guns to Argentina and was tense about it to say the least. A DHE Parker 12 gauge and a Remington Autoloading Shotgun (forerunner of the Model 11).

When I went back a couple years later we got caught up in a mess with the BA Airport shutting down when we were about an hour out and being reverted to Chile for landing. We got stuck there for three days, finally gave up and headed home. We never saw our guns from the time we left NYC and I just assumed I'd never get them back. But after a week or so they magically reappeared and I was able to get them.

In that mess I lost about $5000 in fees and sort of decided that was my last big shooting trip to a third world country. I'd like to go to South Africa on a wingshooting trip but I'd want to take my own guns and just don't know as I'd have the courage.

Destry

[Rich Anderson]

I haven't flown with a gun in about 13 years and I can't say I would want to now.

[Daniel G Rainey]

Several friends and I are looking at a trip to Uruguay for perdiz and doves. A first trip for us. The main pleasure of having a nice gun is using it. Would love to take GH and DHE 16's but am all but sure that 2 1/2 shells are out of the question. Guess if the trip works out I take my RBL 20 but rather be shooting a Parker.

[John Dallas]

IMHO, a 16 is too much gun. On my trip to Argentina, we were shooting nearly 1,000 shells a day. Ideally, I think one wants a 20 gauge with a recoil pad. I set up a Beretta Silver Pigeon, with long barrels and a recoil pad. It's not a lightweight, and that's a plus for high volume shooting

[Bill Davis]

The RBL 20 is a fine choice for Uruguay. 16 ga. Shells can be had, sometimes, but not always. 2 1/2 inch shells--no way! The 20 is plenty for all the shooting you will do down there.

[John Dallas]

Despite being 6'3' and 240#, I'm a recoil whimp. No way would I take my RBL, unless I added a recoil pad, (not happening) or at least wore a strap-on pad under my shirt

[Paul Ehlers]

The ticket for the recoil blues is the evo-shield shooting shirt.

http://www.evoshield.com/en-us/protective-gear/men-s-protective-recoil-shooting-shirt

My last trip I shot over 12,000 rounds of 20ga through a 6 1/4lb Rizzini O/U with a slip-on pad & the evo-shield shirt. Never felt the recoil & could have shot more.

The big thing about 16ga is most outfitters charge a premium above the cost of 12 or 20 gauge ammo. When you're shooting the volume of ammo you do @ 12 to 15 dollars a box a couple of extra bucks a box adds up quickly. It's not uncommon to shoot 60 boxes on a single morning or evening shoot if you want to.