Some common, some not so common questions you might want answers to.
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 The most common question: How many birds will I shoot? |
| Put simply, there are no guarantees. We do not guarantee how many birds you'll shoot or how many shots you'll have. This is wild bird shooting, it's unpredictable (which in our opinion makes it all the more exciting) it depends on so many variables not only on our part, the birds part and the weather but also your own capabilities. We'll try and present the opportunities; the rest is up to you. |
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What cartridges should I use? |
| Shoot whatever you feel most happy with it's not something we'd try and influence you with. Our personal preference is for 12 bore #6, maybe #7 28-32gm felt/fibre wads. Be prepared and bring enough but don't overdo it. If you fire between 30 and 100 shots and can hit what you aim at you should have a good day. |
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What about clothing? |
| Standard advice, in summer it should be lightweight, in winter wrap up warm. Certainly greens or browns, preferably camouflage, should be your predominant choice of colour. A face mask or at the very least a good hat is essential and maybe gloves. There's nothing scares a pigeon more than the stark white flash of a face or hands which can be seen over large distances. |
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What equipment do I need? |
| Booted and suited with a gun and cartridges is all you need, the rest we can provide. Hide, decoys, pigeon rotaries, seat and lunch. |
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Can I use my own equipment? |
| Should you have all your own equipment and wish to set up your own hide and decoys we are quite happy to accommodate that situation. We will take you to a shooting spot where you can set up and spend the day. You must pack your own gear and leave the field at the agreed time having first cleared any litter including cartridges from the site. Remember though; the Woodpigeon is a wild bird; we can only supply you with opportunities. |
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Where can I stay? |
| Book into a local B&B or a hotel if you prefer or come stay as guests in our home. We are not a catering establishment or a B&B but we can offer good comfortable farmhouse accommodation with some damn good home cooked food. We suspect many of our clients come as much for the food, the drink and the socialising as come for the shooting! |
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Do I need insurance? |
You bet. In this day and age you'd be mad to shoot without it and we won't let you. You will need to be a member of either BASC or something similar such as the CA or NFU for insurance purposes and be able to prove it. You will also need to have a valid shotgun and/or firearms certificate.
No certificate. No insurance. No shooting. |
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Do you take beginners? |
| If you've not shot or handled a gun before then please have professional lessons first, we are not a shooting school although we can recommend one or two; our events are aimed at the shooter who wants to learn (more) about Woodpigeon shooting. If you've not shot Woodpigeon before or even if you have but would like to know more then we have the ideal situation for you. Of course dyed in the wool pigeon shooters are also welcome. |
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Can I shoot with an airgun? |
| The short answer is yes. We will provide the same opportunities for you as we do for shotgunners. Obviously we will not mix the two. Shooting Woodpigeons with an airgun is however not the easiest of ways and we much prefer shotgunning them. |
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When is the best time of year to shoot? |
| If there is such a time then probably around harvest time, late June, July through August/September and on into October. However some good bags of birds can be had during the winter months and at almost any other time of the year. Unpredictable is one of our favourite words in this game. My personal favourite months are February and March. |
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Can I bring a dog? |
| Rather you didn't. A number of reasons (with apologies to fully and properly trained gun dogs) …We've all seen those unruly disobedient animals passed off as shooting dogs. (I own one or two!). a) An excitable dog doesn't go well in a pigeon hide. b) We like to use shot birds as decoys but a dogged pigeon can sometimes look pretty rough. c) Also and maybe most importantly, we shoot over land that's used for game birds and upsetting keepers isn't part of our business. If you insist then bring the mutt (prior notice please) and we'll see what it's like; then maybe. |
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Can I bring a non-shooting partner? |
| Non-shooters are welcome at a reduction on the shooters rate. Please refer to our bookings / price list page. |
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I'm a foreign visitor? |
| We probably get more foreigners than UK nationals shooting with us, maybe they appreciate pigeon shooting more, and are fully equiped to deal with them although we don't speak any foreign languages. We have hosted many nationalities, Americans, Canadians, Danes, French, Germans, Greeks, Italians, Maltese, Portuguese, Swiss, Spanish, even Chinese among them. If you want to bring your own gun(s) you'll need us to apply/sponsor you for a UK visitor's permit from our local constabulary (Suffolk in this case). Many of our foreign visitors come in groups and stay over for a number of days. |
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How much does it cost? |
| Please refer to our bookings / price list page for the latest prices or call and discuss your requirements. Our pigeon shooting days are a standard price but much of our game, duck, rough shooting and deer stalking is priced depending upon what clients require so best to speak with us first. |
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What if the weather is bad? |
| There's no such thing as bad weather. We go out in all types. Sometimes the weather simply isn't on our side, too hot, too cold, too still, too wet but we'll still give it a go if we can find the birds. There's seldom a day when the weather's totally against us. This is after all an outdoor sport. |
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What if shooting is cancelled? |
| If WE cancel a day due to lack of opportunities and WE cannot re-book we'll refund your money less a small administration fee of £25. If you've booked and wish to cancel then sorry but we don't do refunds although we might arrange something at our discretion. |
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Do I need to tip/give gratuities? |
Only if you feel you've had a good trip. A tip, say £10 per 50 birds when pigeon shooting is always appreciated and/or perhaps the offer of a pint in the pub at the end of the day. On more formal game days the norm is currently around £15 per gun x each 100 birds shot. Deer stalking tips depend on the individual stalking arrangements and the quality of the beast/s shot.
If you're well pleased with your visit, then show it. |
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We've tried to cover most of the questions you may have to ask but if there's a (sensible) one we've not thought of please ask the question. We may even add it to the list!
icon or question again!