What Is The Lammermuir Shoots Border Game Bag Challenge?

Shooting the species: a most sporting challenge  

“The keepers from Sandringham came close, shooting 11, but we’ve yet to see the full bag.” The Border Game Bag challenge was conceived in 2008, Doug explains, “When the recession happened. It made sense to offer some days that weren’t as expensive as the traditional driven day, but were still every bit as exciting.” 

While the recession may or may not be over, depending on who you talk to, Lammermuir’s challenge is more popular than ever. The shoot, based in the Borders, has the great good fortune to cover all manner of habitats, making the challenge possible. “We’ve got moorland and perfect pheasant and partridge country, as well as wetlands, so the variety of species here is amazing,” Doug says. The idea of a species day is something that a number of shoots do, but few can boast the richesse of Lammermuir, which has not only driven pheasant and redlegs, but also grouse, rabbit, pigeon, brown hare, blue hare, grey partridge, teal, mallard, snipe and woodcock. 

A Victorian-style day

Shooting in this style is not new –our Victorian forefathers enjoyed this form of sport, and sporting is certainly what it is, as Doug explains: “It is a real challenge – to go from shooting the familiar partridge, pheasant or grouse to ground game and waterfowl is not easy. Not that many people shoot all these species on a regular basis.” The bags aren’t big, with most Guns averaging nine or 10 head each during a day, “But that’s not really the point of the days,” Doug says. 

For those wanting a more traditional shoot, Lammermuir has plenty of driven opportunities, with the shoot’s high-quality driven partridge days featured in the William Evans Good Shoot Guide. There are 200-bird days for pheasant or redlegs available, or a combination of both. The grey or English partridge are reared and released, and while a few very near the house do breed, “Few survive, as we’ve got a lot of birds of prey in the area,” Doug says. “I used to see thousands when I was a young boy, but now there are just a handful of the wild ones left. We know which areas they are in, and we leave them alone.” 

Returning for more

Teams of Guns come back every year, according to Doug: “Some come for a few days, to enjoy the driven shoot as well. They don’t give up on the Borders Game Bag challenge, though. I think it is the fact that few places can offer the variety, not just of species, but also of landscape and habitat. It’s a reminder that a great day’s shooting doesn’t need to involve a huge bag. It should be about the sport, and I think that is what Guns love about Lammermuir. I’m glad it is such a difficult challenge, as I’ve promised a bottle of Malt to any team that manages to get all 12 species.” After nine years of the challenge being taken up by teams of Guns, it’ll be a bit of a shock when one succeeds. 

See more information and shooting availability at Lammermuir Shoot.