Shoot Profile: Huntsham Shoot

“Ben and I both shot at Huntsham when we were younger, and had brilliant memories of the place. However, since then it had been run by various people, with limited success. We shot there in November 2013, and were sorely disappointed.” Just three days after shooting at Huntsham, Dan heard that the tenant had disappeared, leaving the shoot with a full season ahead but no-one to run it. “I approached Savills knowing that I had eager clients who were still looking for days shooting, confident that I could fill the availability with teams from Orchard Wyndham, my other shoot near Williton in Somerset. By proving my ability to bring in new teams, I hoped to be considered when it came to a new lease.” 

The biggest challenge, Dan says, has been restoring the shoot’s reputation with both the shooting and local farming communities. “I spent time getting to know the people involved, building up the trust in the shoot again. It took time, but I like to think that the shoot is now better than ever and hope that we have regained the trust of the farmers and local community.” Dan prides himself on providing an enjoyable day for all his guests at Hunstham: “We aim to provide a relaxed atmosphere, one where novices don’t feel intimidated or embarrassed if they aren’t dressed to the nines. Getting newcomers into the sport is incredibly important for both Ben and myself.” 

A passion turned into a profession

Having been brought up in the shooting community, Dan knew from an early age that he wanted to make the sport his career: “It’s always been my passion, and I knew that whatever happened, I wanted to do something that would allow me to shoot as often as possible." Studying Game and Wildlife Management at Sparsholt College was a good start, and after rearing pheasants near his family home in Somerset, he took on Orchard Wyndham before making Huntsham his latest project.

Building for the future

Moving forward, Dan hopes to continue building the shoot and the Huntsham reputation in the industry. "The team and shoot are expanding, as well as two permanent full-time keepers, Tony Pierce and Kyle Stanworth, next season will see the addition of Nick Martin Roberts to the management team. Last year we brought on new ground on the western edge of the estate, which has added five new, high-bird drives and is a brilliant addition to the shoot. It’s all about the fine-tuning now.” 

The essential facts

Location: Huntsham, near Tiverton, Devon 
Acres: 5,000
Single gun days: Yes 
Average bag per day: 250
Quarry: Pheasants and a few partridge
Topography: Devon rolling fields and wooded valleys
Number of named drives: 18
Signature drives: Warren’s Hill, Lower Hill and Beech Bank
Recommended cartridge: 32g or 34g of No. 5s
Average shot ratio: Five to one
Hospitality: A sit down lunch in the comfortable shoot lodge
Transport: Gun bus
Non-shooting guests: Welcome by prior arrangement

For more information, visit Huntsham Shoot