Game shooting 101 – quarry, flight patterns, seasons and more!
With the (rather subdued) grouse shooting season already underway, partridge shooting in play and the start of pheasant season getting ever closer, we know lots of game shooters are starting to think about their days in the field. For anyone who has a day booked this season – or is thinking about booking one – it could be time to brush up on your skills. From ‘springing’ teal to high pheasants and fast, low grouse, the various game bird species in Britain each has their distinct flight pattern! That might require a different approach for success in the field, so we’re here to help you get set for a successful day in the field, whenever it comes.
In this month’s blog, we’ll share the different types of game quarry that you’re most likely to come across in the field this autumn and winter, when the open season is for each bird and their flight pattern. Then we’ll take a closer look at how to use the stands here at Thimbleby to help you prepare for a successful day’s driven game shooting.
Red grouse season starts on the 12th of August and ends on the 10th of December in England, Wales and Scotland, and runs from 12st August to the 30th of November in Northern Ireland. Grouse are fast, low and exciting quarry, which makes the arrival of the ‘glorious twelfth’ a big occasion for many game shooters. This year, a combination of cold and wet weather in spring and summer and a high worm burden in adult grouse has led to low numbers of birds and many grouse shoots were cancelled or scaled back as a result.
Snipe season also kicks off on the 12th of August and runs until the 31st of January in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Snipe fly in a zig-zag pattern until they gain height, so patience and waiting for calmer flight can be key to success. They are, however, small and tricky for picking up dogs to find, so it’s wise to mark your shot if you’re successful.
Red-legged or grey partridge runs from the 1st of September until the 1st of February in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland the partridge season ends on the 31st of January. Partridge are small, agile flyers and require fast reactions and a speedy gun mount for success.
Duck and goose (including teal) season runs from the 1st of September until the 31st of January in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Surprisingly agile for a duck, teal will ‘spring’ into the air, flying almost vertically when disturbed. Duck flight is far faster than you might think, certainly faster than most partridge and many pheasant, so consider adjusting your lead if you’re tackling wildfowling for the first time.
Woodcock season is from the 1st of October to the 31st of January in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The shoot captain may include ‘no woodcock please’, as many estates and shoots don’t allow guns to shoot them – so keep an ear out during the morning briefing. Once in the field, whether you’re allowed to shoot them or not, the cry of ‘woodcock’ or ‘woodcock forward’ announcing the sighting of one on a shoot makes every gun, beater and picker up glance to the sky. The flight of a woodcock is erratic and challenging, with these diminutive birds twisting high up over trees and then barrelling down to land in cover.
Pheasant season runs from the 1st of October until the 1st of February in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. From low, fast pheasant sprung right in front of the beaters line and winging over the guns to high birds over a valley above the gun line, the pheasant is the classic game bird for many a British shoot. Guns looking to increase their accuracy with pheasants should focus on reading the wind conditions and the bird’s direction of travel. Ensuring you track the ’line of the bird’ as well as giving adequate lead will elevate your strike rate.
How to use TSG stands to improve your game shooting
Now that we’ve covered the seasons of some of the most popular winged quarry in the UK, let’s take a closer look at how you can hone your game shooting skills here at Thimbleby Shooting Ground. Each of our stands is designed to simulate the flight patterns and behaviour of real game birds (and rabbits too, but that’s for another day!), offering an experience that mimics the challenges you could face in the field. From the erratic flight of a woodcock to the swift and arcing rise of a pheasant, every stand here helps you to sharpen your reflexes and prepare for a successful day in the field.
To keep things interesting, our team tweaks the stands on a regular basis, so if you’re keen to practise something in particular – springing teal, for example – ask the team on reception before you head out. You’ll find high towers to simulate pheasant valley or hillside drives, loopers and battues to prepare you for more erratic quarry, as well as imitation grouse stands. If you’re lucky enough to join one of our simulated game days, you’ll get an experience that’s as close to real grouse shooting as it’s possible to get with clays. We have our grouse butts set up on the side of the North York Moors and send clays flying low and fast to recreate these small yet challenging game birds!
So, whether you’re looking to replicate the zig-zagging flight of a flushed snipe or master the unpredictable movement of a partridge on the wing, the stands at Thimbleby Shooting Ground offer tailored opportunities to practise.
Selecting the right game cartridges for your quarry
Success in the shooting field is down to a combination of factors – skill at reading the flight of a bird, speedy reactions and picking the right cartridges and chokes for your quarry. For example, you need a light fast load of number 7 shot for snipe and woodcock, or heavier number 4 shot to give you some heft for those for high, well feathered January pheasants. If you would like to fine tune your setup, you’ll find everything you need at Thimbleby. We sell a wide range of cartridges, including those mentioned above, and we offer pattern plate sessions for assessing and tweaking those chokes. Our team is always happy to share advice to help you make the most of your time in the field, so make sure you swing by!