GOOSE SHOOTING IN ICELAND

Shooting 20th August – 20th October (the peak season is 5th September to 10' October). groups of two guns will be assigned a guide who will meet them at the airport, transport them by car all over the island and will take them shooting and will attend to their accommodation. The species to be shot are Greylag and Pinkfoot; Whitefront and Barnacle from 1st September. Expect between 5 and 20 birds per gun per day. Two to four days shooting.

PTARMIGAN SHOOTING IN ICELAND.

Between 15th and 22nd December but particularly during the peak seasons of 15 – 24 October and from mid November onwards, two guns shooting over English setters can each expect between 5 – 25 birds per gun per day. Two to four days shooting. Shooting gets easier during the latter part of the season when the birds become more concentrated in lowland scrub when heavy snow in the mountains forces them down to more acceptable conditions. This is a tough shoot with hard walking required.

AFRICAN TURTLE DOVE SHOOTING IN MOROCCO

The season is mid-June to August. Described by American writer, Stuart Williams, as the fastest, most evasive and difficult bird that he has shot, these birds have migrated 2,000 miles north from the sub-Sahara regions of west Africa and they arrive in Morocco in vast numbers in late April. Shooting is limited to Friday, Saturday, Sundays and Mondays with a daily limit of 50 birds per person which is frequently achieved in the morning flight. Owing to the quality of the hotels this is largely a luxury pool-side holiday with exciting shooting thrown in as a bonus.

DOVE AND PIGEON SHOOTING IN ARGENTINA

The 10,000 acre estate known as Estancia los Chanares owned by avid Canadian shooter, Serge Dompierre is situated m Cordoba. Entirely owned by Serge and boasting a brand new purpose built lodge, a feature of the property is 2,000 acres of hill densely covered with the bush called Chanares which is estimated to hold 2 million birds roosting in these shrubs, the population always increasing with bi-annual reproduction. The remainder is parcelled into 18 vast hunting areas each with a regular supply of water near which no shooting takes place. Close season is 1 April – 24 June. The five star luxury lodge has seven twin-bedded rooms. Maximum of 14 visitors.

DRIVEN RED LEGGED PARTRIDGES IN SPAIN

Season for wild birds is early October to early February, for reared birds from early September to March and in prov. Salamanca, by special license, even into May. One outstanding property complete with luxury accommodation offers all wild birds. This 40,000 acre estate offers days from 300 birds upwards and at particularly competitive prices. Other properties show reared birds as successfully as good pheasant shoots in the United Kingdom; one a property south of Salamanca and the other barely 45 minutes from Madrid Airport. Both these reared bird estates are so hilly that magnificent birds are produced.

The shooting of partridges in Spain has become an industry and is extremely well conducted. Groups from five guns but preferably seven or eight can request days from 200 birds up to 1,000 birds a day.

DRIVEN PHEASANTS IN EASTERN EUROPE (THE CZECH
REPUBLIC, SLOVAKIA & HUNGARY)

In the Czech Republic our choice is limited to Zidlochovice. A short distance south of Brno, this property offers the ambience of Victorian shooting since the house is the old shooting castle of the Hapsburg family. Bags varying from 1,000 to 2,000 or more birds per day may be requested.

In Slovakia, the shoots organised by our associates lie to the east of the capital city of Bratislava in the area surrounding the town of Nitra less than two hours drive from Vienna. Over the past 20 years they have built up shooting on 30 different estates with most of them over pleasantly hilly country. Groups of normally six to eight guns are accommodated in a choice of castles offering outstanding accommodation and shoots may be arranged for two or more days with daily bags from 500 birds upwards. In Hungary’s northeast the terrain is agreeably hilly and here six to ten guns may request days of 500 – 1,000 birds although 700 – 800 are more normal. These shoots lie no more than an hour north east of Budapest where guests may stay on arrival or departure. One shoot is accommodated in particularly luxurious accommodation known as the Eagle Castle and is coupled with showing probably the best birds in Eastern Europe.

The complete package, airport back to airport, including airport transfers, transport to and on the shoot, lodging, food, drinks and ammunition brings out a price per bird approximately half the cost of a pheasant only in the United Kingdom and currently with no Value Added Tax.

ALL WILD GAMEBIRD SHOOTING SAFARIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

We represent Gamebirds Southern Africa, the brainchild of noted African ornithologist, photographer, writer and dedicated shooting man Peter Johnson. Originally coupled with the luxury Rovos Train, non-train programmes have been prepared setting out the same shoots but greatly reducing the costs by utilising luxury tented camps or permanent lodges. A feature of some schedules is the imaginative use of charter aircraft virtually on 'standby’ flying into private estate strips. Peter has an encyclopaedic knowledge of shooting and politics in the different countries of Southern Africa. He Has a portfolio of almost 50 private estates who have combined to improve wild gamebird environment on their properties thus yielding a sustainable surplus to be culled by visiting sportsmen.

Programmes of approximately one week’s duration run June to late October and currently take place in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa and are for five to eight guns and up to five non shooting guests. Driven, flighted and occasionally over dogs, game comprises guineafowl, francolin (four species), spurfowl (four species), dove and pigeon (three species), sand grouse, geese and duck. Game viewing and sightseeing is incorporated.

Peter Johnson whom I have known for 25 years, is a perfectionist. His multi-facet operations run like a Swiss watch and he has my profound respect and admiration for his organisational ability.

DUCK SHOOTING IN SWEDEN

The season runs from 21 August to the end of September. The programmes can be arranged for 6-8 or more guns and take place 1 hours West of Stockholm or near to Vaxjo, mid way between Stockholm and Copenhagen. Offered as a 1 to 4 day shoot the programmes present a combination of daytime shooting and evening flighting while the venues vary from a series of small ponds or meres to a lake extending to a staggering 28,000 acres. Accommodation is provided in Castles or top quality Mansions and the daily expectation varies from 500 – 800 birds per day in August to 300-500 birds per day in September. Surprisingly Heathrow to Copenhagen is the same length journey as Heathrow to Inverness.

DUCK AND DOVE SHOOTING IN EGYPT

Under the same outstanding Scandinavian management as the Driven Wildboar shoot in Tunisia described below, these minimum 3 day programmes take place round the oasis of Fayoum, a ninety minute drive south from Cairo. Accommodation is in the Grand Hotel Auberge du Lac on the shores of Lake Qarun, an establishment redolent of the Farouk era, the hotel disposes of lofty rooms and enormous salons. It has a magnificent and well kept swimming pool beside the lake. Season opens 15th November with Duck concluding on 31st January and Doves at the end of April. 7 gun groups assembled for 3 to 5 days shooting. Outstandingly priced including return airfare with British Airways.

DRIVEN WILD BOAR IN TUNISIA

Although not a bird shoot, we mention these week long well priced programmes from late October until end of January. A Scandinavian run operation, the same area of 150,000 hectares has been reliably hunted since 1974 and holds an enviable reputation for professionalism and efficiency. Only shotguns may be used using Remington, Winchester or Federal slugs which have been found to be accurate up to 100 metres and more without damaging the barrels. Heavily rebooked. All inclusive from Heathrow back to Heathrow. 10 – 12 guns; however enquiries are welcomed from lesser numbers.

DRIVEN DUCK IN WALES

Although not an overseas shoot and taking place only in September and for two days from Monday to Wednesday, this remarkable shoot is only 12 miies from the RAF base at Aberforth which is suitable for private aircraft. While we are sometimes able to offer days of up to 2,000 birds for teams of five to eight guns, an expectation of 200 birds per gun per day is more normal. The shoot which attracts a large number of wild birds yields up to six different species of duck. Cefyngwyn Hall is unique in the United Kingdom and has an unmatched reputation. Based on a 300 acre floating swamp this is surrounded by endless smaller holding ponds, the whole enterprise is conducted over 1,000 acres.

 

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