The never-ending shooting season in the UK and abroad

With 12 months in a year, but the UK shooting season lasting only five and a half of them, what are we to do with those spare months? Sure, there’s fishing, rugby, racing and cricket (if you’re a masochist, based on England’s recent performances), but with a bit of planning - and deep enough pockets - you can have fun with your shotgun all year-round. Not sure where to go? Read on!

February - Partridge shooting in Spain

Shooting red-legs in Spain is more akin to shooting driven grouse than the partridge shooting you might be used to in the UK. Fast and frenetic shooting, contour-hugging birds, and amazing hospitality in historic lodges, not to mention the chance to escape February’s freezing temperatures for some Iberian sunshine, a partridge trip to Spain is an ideal way to keep your season going. 

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March - Barbary partridge shooting, Morocco

Despite their visual similarity to red-legs, Barbary partridge’s wing-shape is reminiscent of grouse, which means that they pitch and roll when driven off the vertiginous cliffs of the Atlas Mountains, offering a shooting challenge for the very best of guns. Partridge trips to Morocco can be combined with a number of other activities, including boar hunting, trips to a hammam (bathhouse) and trips to the coast for a day or two on the beach.

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April - Pigeon shooting, UK

Of course, trips abroad are all well and good, but the UK has some pretty good shooting to offer outside of the game seasons. In particular, spring drillings can accumulate huge numbers of woodies, and there are ample opportunities to get out in a hide and decoy them, or shoot a flightline if you have the time to do the necessary recon. The ‘humble’ pigeon - fast, possessed of keen eyesight and aeronautical ability - is a worthy adversary for any shot.

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May - Doves and duck shooting, Argentina 

All that practice on our pigeon population should stand you in good stead for a trip to Latin America to take on the rock doves, which accumulate in vast flocks in the arable-rich area around Cordoba. May is a great time to visit, as this coincides with the harvest, which can result in the fabled ‘dove hurricane’, which sees enormous concentrations of birds hitting one area: hot barrels are guaranteed! Although huge bags are possible, the real appeal is the enormous variety of shoots that these agile and speedy birds offer. May is also the start of the duck season in Argentina, and the country’s duck shooting is rapidly becoming a must for the globe-trotting gun.

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June - Walked up Francolin, South Africa

After the high-volume, shoulder-destroying activity in South America, it's time to put some miles in the legs and walk off some of that Argentine beef. There are several species of Francolin, occupying different environmental niches, but they are all typically shot walked up over pointers. They’re known for sitting very tight and flushing in coveys, similar to quail or grouse, requiring lightening fast reactions to bring down.  In addition to walked up francolin, there are also opportunities to shoot walked up spurfowl and driven guineafowl.

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July - Simulated game shooting / lessons, UK

After a ‘close season’ like this, it is unlikely that you’re going to be too out of practice, but July offers a great chance to get back into a UK mindset and get ready for driven shooting again. Book yourself in at your local shooting school for a session on the high tower, or get a couple of sim days under your belt at somewhere with a good simulated grouse drive… the season is just around the corner!

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August - Driven quail, Serbia

If you can't wait until the 12th, could a trip to Serbia, one of shooting's best kept secrets, be the answer? Quail are small gamebirds that explode into flight at speeds of up to 40mph, presenting a great warm up for the grouse and a serious challenge in the their own right. The shooting takes place around the fringes of the Deliblato sands, Europe's largest sand dune system - a remarkable place!

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