doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Is shooting in England too expensive?

American friends tell me they have the opportunity to shoot in England via sporting agents but it all tends towards the very expensive days on posh shoots and that they need a a budget of £1000 plus per day to partake.

I'm planning to start a syndicate for next year for vintage gun enthusiasts to come and shoot within 40 minutes of London at a really good shoot with pheasant & partridges being the main quarry but also wildfowl(not raised), snipe, woodcock, pigeon, hare etc expected in the bag.

Topography is woods, fields, elevated game crops and semi-wetlands. Shooting is a mix - two teams of nine Guns. 'Team A' shoot the first drive as driven birds. 'Team B' beat the drive but carry their guns to shoot pigeons, crows, woodcock, and birds going back etc. Next drive, roles are reversed. Six drives per day, 100 game birds bag expected. This is our little syndicate but I wonder if overseas visitors may find it interesting.

Visiting guns would get a vintage gun, a loader/companion to assist them, transport to and from their London hotel, ammo, etc. Food and drink provided.

The cost of the shooting would be about £200 per gun per day, plus a small additional cost for visitors re-transport, ammo etc. This represents about cost price but would be a good opportunity to have enthusiasts over without them having to pay exhorbitant prices.

We need 18 Guns per day and will shoot 6 days per year. Most Guns will be regulars from the UK but I'd love overseas enthusiasts to join us on adaily basis if need be.

Would this be of any interest to people like you?

I'm not saying 'you' personally but you do represent a good section of the enthusiast for having vintage guns and shooting with them. Any thoughts much appreciated. (Joe: please don't bother!)

I would think there would be a fair bit of interest..... it is the type of shooting that would greatly appeal to me personally. Can you set up some of the shoots so they are timed to coincide with some of the gun auctions? That would be nearly irresistible for me.
Steve

Is this post allowed? Commercial post??

Small Bore-Yes, great idea.
gomiata-Sounds more like he's doing us a favor. I don't think Small Bore will be making a killing at those rates.

giomiata - I don't know - maybe someone can tell me. I'll delete it if it offends

It should be in the miss-fire section.

Seeing and meeting would be worth 200 pounds to me, should I have the time to go. I can't imagine better entertainment for the price.

Commercial, misfire? C'mon, he's thinking of doing something affordable and interesting and wondering what we think.

I live in a gunning Shangri-la. If I knew of a way I could share it with sportsmen without ruining it I'd be asking here for advice.

I checked the BPS to USD exchange rates for the past year. Presently is is 1.48 Dollars to a Pound with a high over the past year of slightly over $2 per pound. At 200 pounds per day I think our gracous British host will be lucky if he doesn't loose money on this venture!

While today it might not be "My cup of tea" I thank Small Bore for the opportunity to partake in the fine tradition of English hunting.

Mark

I think it's fine here.

Does your price include all the game? Or is that on top of the fee? How many birds can a person expect to shoot? What is included?

Shooting at a top lodge in places like South Dakota, Texas, or Georgia can easily run $300+ a day, all inclusive. And the number of birds you can kill in a day is a lot lower. For truly wild pheasants in South Dakota, you can pay $300/day for 3 birds.

So if the pound stays weak, and game is included, I don't think your prices are out of line. But what about everything else - getting your guns in, transportation, etc?

I would want to pay one flat fee for everything and not have to mess around with setting this and that up, taking care of this little thing, etc.

Good luck with your venture.

OWD

I also think it is fine to post here (ignore the BBS NAZIs). I would have interest as I would think many others would. I am sure if Dave finds it offensive he will move it or remove it or ask you to do the same.
Jeff G.