Wood Pigeon Shooting
Viscount now offers Wood Pigeon shooting over arable fields and woods in Sussex. We initially offered pigeon shooting as a great way for our clients to spend part of their day, either before or after a deer stalking session. Due to it's popularity we are now offering pigeon shooting as a separate package to our clients.
The Wood Pigeon is a wild and challenging bird to shoot. Sometimes referred to as 'poor man's grouse' the wood pigeon provides some of the best and most affordable shooting the UK has to offer.
There are two main methods of shooting wood pigeon. These methods are 'decoying' and 'roost' shooting.
Shooting over decoys is the most popular method of shooting over crops where pigeons are feeding.
Typically, a day of decoying starts mid morning and continues throughout the afternoon. This is when the pigeons are most active in feeding. This method is particularly successful throughout the summer months of July and September, just before and after harvest time when there is an abundance of ripe crops such as wheat and oil seed rape.
Shooting pigeons coming into roost can offer excellent sport. As the day draws to a close the pigeons turn their attention to finding a wood to spend the night. They have their favourite woods and this is where the shooter waits, well hidden for the pigeons to fly in above them. This method is most effective during the winter months and early spring when the trees are bare and days are short.
The weather can play a huge part in how successful a days pigeon shooting is. Windy weather is best as it keeps the birds on the move. However, clients must remember the wood pigeon is a wild bird and the weather can be unpredictable, therefore success and numbers of birds cannot be guaranteed.
Option 1
Available from 1st August - 30th April
Deer stalking and Pigeon shooting day.
This is a fully guided 'whole day'. Deer stalking early in the morning then pigeon shooting in the afternoon. An estate rifle and shotgun are both available for the day. Pigeon decoys and hide are supplied and set up for you. A packed lunch is also provided including hot drinks.
This offer includes 1 'cull' fallow buck or doe, as many pigeons as you can shoot, a packed lunch and 50 cartridges. Extra cartridges are charged at £7.50 per box of 25.
You are welcome to take a couple of brace (4) pigeons home with you. All other game shot remains property of the estate but may be purchased at market rate. Please call us for current prices.
Prices.
£275 + VAT per person
Option 2
Available 1st June - 30th April
Deer stalking and Pigeon shooting day.
This is a full day of pigeon shooting. During summer and autumn months shooting takes place over decoys set out over crops of wheat or rape.
During the winter months the days shooting is split, over decoys set out on rape throughout the morning and early afternoon then roost shooting in woods late afternoon until dusk.
When you arrive you will be taken to a hide already set-up for you with a pattern of decoys in place. All you will need to bring is a packed lunch.
If you wish to shoot unaccompanied then you need to bring your own cartridges and gun. You must also bring a copy of you current shot gun certificate and insurance documents.
Unaccompanied, using your own gun and cartridges = £80 + VAT per person.
Accompanied, fully guided including the use of a shotgun = £180 + VAT per person
Cartridges are charged extra at £7.50 per box of 25.