Culture in Every Shot: Discovering Spain's Unique Shooting Heritage

The largest country in Europe, boardered by the Atlantic, The Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, Spain is a popular holiday destination with Brits, who visit for the warm climate, stunning cities, sandy beaches, gastronomy and rich cultural life.

In antiquity the peninsula was inhabited by Celtic and Iberian tribes, and latterly was part of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire tribes such as the Visigoths migrated into the region from central Europe, centred around Toledo. In the 8th century most of the peninsula was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate. The region was under Islamic rule until the Reconquista, which eventually returned Iberia to Christian rule in 1492 with the recapture of the Kingdom of Granada. 

The unification of the royal crowns of Castille and Aragon in the late 15th century is widely regarded as the formation of Spain as a nation. Spain went on to have one of the biggest empires in world history, spanning from the Phillipines to the Americas.

This has given Spain one of the richest cultures in the world, blending aspects of all of these influences into the country’s arts, architecture, and cuisine.

Spain's storied sporting history

Modern humans first arrived in the Iberian peninsula from the north around 35,000 years ago. The caves of Altamira, which contain paintings from around this time, are among the best known prehistoric sites in the world. The cave art depicts numerous species of animals, including steppe bison, deer, horses and boar. Elsewhere in Spain there are cave paintings that depict the hunting of Spanish Ibex with bows and spears. 

Latterly, as in much of the rest of Europe, hunting became the preserve of the aristocracy, which focussed mainly on the hunting of big game animals on horseback. This type of hunting is known as a ‘monteria’, and is still practised today in a modified form - today the spears are replaced by rifles. The Monteria Espanola, which is unique to Spain, evolved in the 18th century. 

In the 19th century the sport of partridge shooting was introduced, popularised by King Alfonso XIII. Today people travel from all over the world to experience Spain’s unique shooting culture.

Species profile: Redleg Partridge

Redlegs need little introduction to the UK shooting community. This being said, Alectoris rufa hispanica is native to the iberian peninsular and shooting a quarry in its native habitat does add something special to the experience. Agile, strong flying and tricky to pick up, there’s a reason they are one of the most popular quarry species in the UK and beyond.

Spanish shooting style

Partridge shooting in Spain is very different from the kind of shooting you are likely to experience in the UK. Rather than height, Spanish partridge shoots aim to provide fast-paced action where high-tempo shooting is valued above all else. Partridge are presented rather more like grouse or traditionally shown grey partridge. This being said, many Spanish partridge estates can also offer high-bird drives more akin to traditional UK shooting… but why go all the way to Spain to shoot British-style birds? That’s the shooting equivalent of ordering ham, egg and chips instead of paella!

“UK guns will have to adjust their mindset in order to take on this style of shooting,” says Ollie Severn of William Powell Sporting, who run trips to many of the top Spanish estates. “You’ll need to be aggressive and take them early, like grouse. Footwork is everything and fast reactions are vital!”

Shooting in Spain comes with its own set of peculiarities, traditions and etiquette to keep in mind. Most UK guns will be used to doing their own loading and being alone on the peg. In Spain double-gun shooting is the norm, and you’ll be accompanied in your stand by a loader as well as a secretario whose job it is to keep track of how many birds you shoot to your gun, as well as where they fall. 

One of the more romantic aspects of shooting in Spain is the use of horse-mounted flaggers, equipped with Spain’s Rojigualda. 

A typical day shooting driven partridge in Spain

“We typically arrange back-to-back days for our teams in Spain,” says Ollie. “Days begin with a fantastic breakfast in the lodge before a briefing from the shoot team at about 9am to go over the plan for the day.” 

He explains that days are usually four or five drives, with a break after a couple of drives for the Spanish equivalent of elevenses, taco. However, if you’re used to a sausage roll in a barn, the extravagant feast that is taco will make quite the change. Usually taken in the field, this is an extensive banquet featuring local delicacies and fine wines. 

After taco there will be a couple more drives before lunch, also taken in the field or in a lunch room on the estate.  Once the day’s shooting is over teams repair to the lodge to relax before dinner.  

Accommodation and hospitality

Spanish partridge shooting estates are typically blessed with stunning accommodation, whether that's a modern lodge, a castle or a traditional hunting lodge. In any case, you can be assured of a truly luxurious experience. Most will boast a swimming pool, some will even have a spa.

Like many Mediterranean cultures, the Spanish take food and drink very seriously, so you can be confident that you'll be well fed and watered throughout your trip - Spanish cuisine draws heavily upon the natural bounty of both land and sea.

Other activities

Many Spanish partridge estates can also provide driven monterias for those who would like to sample the other famous aspect of Spain’s fieldsports culture. Activities for non-shooting guests vary (depending on which estate you visit) and range from sightseeing trips to the stunning cities of Seville, Toledo and Madrid, to golf, riding, spa sessions, horse and carriage rides and more.

Getting there and logistics

A short hop from the UK, getting to Spain is relatively low-cost and straightforward with plenty of commercial flights taking off from many UK airports every day.

“We work with some of the most exclusive partridge shooting estates in Spain, many of which have facilities for helicopters or even private jets,” says Ollie. He adds that cartridges are included in the price of William Powell Sporting’s partridge shooting trips, and that estates can offer shotgun hire for those who prefer not to travel with their guns.

Best time to visit

The Spanish partridge season runs from mid-October to mid/late-March. “Many UK teams visit Spain in February and March as a way to extent their shooting season,” says Ollie. “With temperatures typically in the mid-teens or even early twenties, it can make a nice change from the damp and gloom of the UK!”

Where to go

Many of Spain's partridge shooting estates are found in the Castilla La Mancha region, within easy striking distance of Madrid, though there estates all over Spain and even in the Balearic Islands. William Powell Sporting arrange partridge trips to some of the best-known estates in Spain, with reputations for top-quality shooting and hospitality to match. These include the likes of La Nava, Ventosilla, La Cuesta and Venta Quemada, and many more. For more information visit William Powell Sporting or contact Ollie.