We join Ian Harford on a beautiful, but cloudy mid-November day pheasant shooting at the stunning Shakenhurst Estate in Worcestershire.
It's a typical day in the Great British countryside as the weather shifts from sleet to sunshine at a moments notice. Despite the weather, Ian enjoys the mixed bag of pheasant and partridge and the challenging heights presented to him.
Shakenhurst Estate spans a spectacular 1,300 acres of land with 300 acres of woodland, offering a variety of terrain from rolling parkland to fields of arable, with plenty of challenges for the high bird specialist. However, if you're like Ian and you're just looking for a relaxed day with some good company, then Shakenhurst has a lot to offer.
Today, Ian is equipped with his AYA No.1 De Luxe side by side shotgun. His ammunition of choice is the Hull Cartridge Imperial Game 12 Gauge 30 grams in shot size 5. These are enough to bring down Ian's birds but doesn't pack enough of a punch that leaves you feeling bruised towards the end of the day.
Variety is key here at Shakenhurst. The first drive offered a classic English partridge drive with open fields, a cover crop and a lovely high bank. The second drive was a complete change of scenery. Classic snap shooting in the heart of the woodland with rolling valleys and dense vegetation and pheasants popping out from every angle. It's this variety that makes every drive an exciting experience.
Martin Stretton's favorite part of the Shakenhurst shoot is the unique challenges faced in each shoot. Going from an open drive to a tight knit woodland offers two very different types of shooting and where Martin felt unsuccessful in his first drive, he thrived in the second due to the instinctive shooting opportunities on offer as he had no time to overthink his shots.
Oliver Rowland has been the head gamekeeper at Shakenhurst for 25 seasons. He has the help of an under-keeper to manage the beaters and pickers up that keep this shoot so well managed. The central location and easy access make this shoot an ideal landmark for local enthusiasts and those looking for a challenge. Although the estate has been closed for quite some time, it attracts a lot of attention, especially after the new estate owners have worked hard putting in improving access to the drives and the drives themselves to bring in a better experience for locals.
Louis Staddon is the owner of Shakenhurst Estate and gives an insight into the running of a shoot like today. The team of 14-15 beaters would have walked half a mile out to blank the birds into the flushing point. A lot of hard work goes into making a successful shoot, especially with new beaters and keepers to work with. However, the shoot is very much a family affair with a dedicated team of beaters and this season marks the 99th year of syndicate shoots taking place at Shakenhurst.
With a fantastic end to a prosperous day of shooting, Ian thanks the team of beaters, the hospitality, the shoot managers and his fellow guns for another brilliant day out in the countryside.
Shotgun - AYA No.1 De Luxe - www.aya-fineguns.com/product/a...
Ammunition - Hull Cartridge Imperial Game 12 Gauge/30gram/Shot Size 5 - www.hullcartridge.co.uk/game/...
Clothing - Deerhunter Wingshooter Jacket in Dark Blue - www.deerhunter.eu/en/collecti...
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1 май 2019
