Get game-season ready at Thimbleby Shooting Ground
The new game shooting season is less than a month away, and we know people who love to spend their free time in the field will be making plans and getting ready for their first shoot. At Thimbleby Shooting Ground, we offer a range of services and lessons that are perfect for helping you get game-season ready, as well as ammunition, clothes and accessories to ensure your day goes with a bang. In this month’s blog we’re sharing a guide to the different ways you can prepare for the season ahead with Thimbleby:
Get your gun in ship shape with a service
We’re proud to host James Reynolds (also known as the Woodworking Gunsmith) with his studio on site at the shooting ground. This makes it easy to get your gun in perfect working order before the game shooting season kicks off – or before your first day in the field. James can carry out any level of servicing you need and fix any niggling issues that might just disrupt an otherwise perfect day’s shooting. Booking is required, so please contact James by emailing thewoodworkinggunsmith@outlook.com or calling 07807081898, get your gun booked in and drop it off next time you’re here.
Book a game-focused lesson
Did you know that we offer a lesson that’s specifically aimed at people who are looking forward to a day’s game shooting? The Game Changer is a half-day lesson with one of our Game Instructors, and it’s totally tailored to your skill level and experience. You’ll spend the lesson shooting a variety of drives around the stunning Thimbleby Estate and enjoy a light lunch and refreshments. If you’re new to game shooting our instructor will cover in-field etiquette and safety, what to expect from your day and (of course) ensuring your shooting is on top form ready to impress your hosts. If you’re an experienced game shot, this lesson is an excellent opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and get expert help to banish any bad habits before your day’s shooting.
This is a 1:1, half-day lesson and a truly excellent way to make the most of your day in the field, but you might choose to go for an hour-long lesson instead. Again, these are tailored for your skill level to ensure you get the most out of your time with your instructor. We also offer loading/in field tuition for those who would like it, but these sessions must be booked well in advance to ensure instructor availability. You can browse our full list of lessons by clicking here, and either book online, call 01609 883 401 or email info@thimblebyestate.com to secure your lesson.
Come to events designed to raise your game
If you’re keen to try some new guns and perhaps purchase one before your day in the field, our demo days provide the perfect opportunity. We’re holding another demo day at the shooting ground on the 14th of August and will host reps from Edgar Brothers (Zoli shotguns and AGT air rifles), Anglo Italian Arms (Caesar Guerini and Fabarm), Blaser UK (rifles and shotguns plus clothing). There will be a wide range of shotguns to try, including game guns and ladies’ guns, so make sure you mark your diary.
For ladies looking forward to their first driven pheasant day in the autumn, we’re holding a very exclusive event for just 10 people on Saturday 28th September. Our Ladies Pheasant Day combines shooting instruction aimed at improving your pheasant shooting with top tips for preparing and cooking the contents of the game bag after a successful day out. Five women will shoot in the morning enjoying 50 clays and cartridges including a focus on high targets before heading back to the clubhouse for a game preparation session with Rob Newton from BASC. The morning will conclude with a tasty BBQ featuring the game that was prepared, before the same format is repeated in the afternoon for the next five attendees. Booking is essential to secure your space and tickets cost £110 for members and £120 for non-members.
Shop for game ammo and in-field kit
Our shop is a haven for both clay and game-shooting enthusiasts, and our team is on hand to help you tick off everything you need for your day in the field. We can advise on the right game cartridges for your day and help you select the appropriate clothing for your day out. If you’re heading to a smart country estate, we stock plenty of smart technical tweed clothing, shirts and ties to face the British weather in style. If you’re heading somewhere more relaxed, we can help there too, or if you need to update your accessories then we have everything from sturdy boots, smart leather gun slips and cartridge bags to smart electronic ear defenders and winter-ready gloves. The shop is open whenever the shooting ground is, so check out our current opening hours here.
Good luck with the season ahead!