HASPARREN / URUGUAY

Located in the rolling hills of central Uruguay, Hasparren has been a hunting lodge for more than 17 years. The hunting and lodge operations are run by Bernardo and Mercedes Barran, their family and staff.

Hasparren has been in the Barran family for more than one hundred and forty years, since the time of the civil war in the U.S. the first of the Barrans came in the 19th century from the Spanish Basque country, and the little town of Hasparren. It is from here that the ranch takes its name. The first of the Barrans settled in Uruguay to start a cattle ranching operation. The present house, built in 1954, was constructed by using the rough, grey and brown stones collected from the original walls of the ranch's corrals.

Standing like a small fortress on the open prairies, the strength of the stone, and the softness of the immense thatch roof supported by hand-hewn wooden beams make Hasparren lodge feel cozy, and walking through the door, you immediately feel at home here.

Hasparren offers 5 bedrooms with bath, and will accommodate eight guests, and while you are in the ranch, it is yours to enjoy, from the confortable living room with its inviting fireplace, to the dining room offering beautiful views over open fields and a small lake. In pleasant weather an open galeria awaits with comfortable chairs so guests may enjoy the fresh air at any time of the day.

Dining at Hasparren is always an event, and menus feature a variety of Uruguay's famous beef, wild game, and pasta. You will also enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits, grown for the shooting season on the ranch, and also excellent cheeses along with the best wines of Uruguay and Argentina. An open bar offers a variety of liquors for cocktails or after dinner.
 

LOCATION

* Hasparren is located in the Rio Negro region of west-central Uruguay, 300 kilometers or 185 miles from Montevideo, the country's capital city. Driving time 3 1/2 hours, over good roads and through beautiful rural country.

* Optionally, you may charter directly to the landing strip at Hasparren, which is a great time saver.

Charters can originate from either Montevideo or Buenos Aires.
 

THE SHOOTING

Hunting and shooting at Hasparren offers a variety of game that makes Uruguay a very unique destination, where hunters can enjoy the pursuit of the upland mixed bag in the same day, each and every day.

Each morning you will hunt wild partridge or perdiz in short grass pastures, and over pointers and english setters, while each afternoon volume dove shooting is on the shooting schedule, and normally doves are encountered on a flyway enroute to a roost. Other afternoons, big, wild pigeons are substituted for doves by decoying in the fertile grain fields nearby.
 

The season for upland game generally runs from may 1st to july 31st each year.

Doves and pigeons shooting is also excellent from from march to november.

Everyday you will drive to the perdiz fields, and return for lunch at the lodge, or stay for a barbecue, the "asado", done in the field by the staff.

The afternoon shoot will start after lunch,and will end at dusk. Each evening you will return to the lodge for cocktails and dinner. Your host and guide, as well as bird boys, will be with you to provide you with challenging shooting, and other necessities such as shotgun shells, refreshments and anything else you may need. Drive time to hunt locations is usually between 10 and 20 minutes for the perdiz or pigeon fields, and from 15 minutes up to an hour for the dove shooting