The day starts off with a coffee and bacon roll for breakfast for all clients; during which your host will run through a safety briefing, keep this in mind throughout your day.
Once breakfast has concluded, touring the shooting estate in 4×4’s; stopping off to shoot each different drive-in turn on the estate. Even though you might have to walk a short way to your peg, the experience and topography makes it well worth the effort.
The estate tour, followed by a beautiful three course lunch, within the estate grounds.
If you are wondering: do I have to be an experience shot to enable me to take part in one of these events?
The answer is categorically NO.
No experience needed to join a day of simulated game shooting. More to the point, it is a fantastic way for novices to take their first steps into the world of game and clay shooting; English Estates always have staff and instructors to hand, helping you with anything you need.
So, if you have been contemplating the idea for a while but cannot decide if this field sport is for you, a day of simulated game shooting will answer all your questions.
Now to answer those important questions and making your decision an easy one.
What are the main differences between a live game bird shooting day and a simulated game shooting day?
There are three main differences. The first and most obvious is the type of targets used in each:
On game bird shooting days, targets are live quarry (pheasants, partridge, grouse, and ducks, etc).
On simulated game shooting days, clay pigeon targets used to simulate driven pheasants, partridge, grouse, and ducks as close to the real thing as possible.
The second difference is the volume of targets to shoot:
Game bird shooting days, offer fixed numbers of birds shot (between 40 and 600) expected bag size.
No limits placed on the number of targets shot on simulated game shooting; however, 3000 to 6000 targets presented is the normal for the estate throughout the day.
The third difference is what happens when you shoot other participants targets:
On traditional game shooting days, shooting other people’s birds & targets considered bad sportsmanship and looked down upon.
The host actively encourages simulated game shooting participants, to shoot at your neighbour’s targets on simulated game days.
What equipment do I need for a simulated game shooting day?
Just like all sports, PPE, needed for clay shooting, equipment needed for simulated game shooting events are shotgun and cartridges. You will need a hat to protect your head and face from any broken clay fragments, safety glasses protecting your eyes, and the obvious one, although not mandatory, you may experience tinnitus on the short term, or this could be permanent if the correct hearing protection not worn.
Obviously, you should wear clothes and footwear suitable for the countryside at the time of year you will be partaking in the simulated game shooting.
Do I need to have a shot gun or shot gun licence?
If you already own your own shot gun and would like to bring it with you to the simulated game shooting day, the event organiser will ask to see your licence and insurance, insurance will need purchase in advance.
If you are travelling from Europe to the UK and wish to bring your own shot gun, we can be your ambassador and sponsor applying for a temporary year shot gun permit; cost £100 including postage of your new licence to your European home address.
You do not need your shot gun fitted to be able to shoot on a simulated game shoot, however a well fitted gun means you will be able to shoot more consistently receiving less recoil, meaning less self-adjustment needed for each shot and the chances of a miss mount with an unpleasant bruise at the start of the day will make the simulated game shooting much more pleasurable.
If you do not have a shot gun, being new to Field sports and are still contemplating applying for your own shot gun licence, you can hire, and estate shot gun and loader. Estates where simulated game shooting events take place will provide this service, if notified in advance.
In this case, it is advisable to ask for an instructors aid rather than just a loader.
Please note that, prohibited persons with earlier convictions or custodial sentences served, are not able to take part in the shooting on a simulated game day.
What would be the best cartridges to use for a simulated game day?
Best cartridges to shoot on a simulated game day would be 21 g to 24 g cartridges (shot size 7.5 Or 8).
Clients often fire anywhere from 300 to 800 cartridges throughout the course of a simulated game shooting day. Making the use of lighter cartridges highly recommended as this significantly reduces recoil. Shooting estates have also started to accept the implementation of biodegradable wads along with traditional fibre wads, which offer a practical and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic cup wads.
Additionally, in the ethos of being environmentally friendly, steel shot introduced to simulated game days, replacing the lead shot which, although more expensive, is less damaging environmentally. (For those using steel shot the tightest chokes used must be half choke or less).
Another crucial point to bear in mind is that the estate manager oversees clean-up duty and removal of all clays and cartridges used during simulated game days, so be thorough in place all your spent cartridge shells in your bin provided.
How much does a simulated game shooting day cost?
Obviously, depending on the estates location and where you plan to spend this fantastic day will give variation in cost.
On average, the cost of a simulated game shoot is less than the cost of a traditional live Game bird shooting day.
Four seasons simulated game shooting prices: £195 per peg.
Where can I enjoy a simulated game day?
There are places available to enjoy simulated game shooting in Lavant, West Sussex.
If you live in the UK and are considering a staycation in a different part of the country with four seasons shooting, or you are thinking of travelling from Europe taking a holiday here, then a day of clay shooting lessons at a local sporting ground, followed by a simulated game shooting day to practice your newly learnt skills makes for a great long weekend. Game & clay shooting lessons.
Contact us for our dates in the county of West Sussex, we will be happy to help you find the best dates for your group on our simulated game shooting estate near Lavant.
With all this information at your fingertips, the only thing left for four seasons shooting to say is have a smashing time at simulated game shooting.
Tips to keep in mind:
- listen closely to the breakfast briefing.
- Enjoy the day: put your mobile phone in the car.
- Follow all shooting safety rules, this is for your own benefit.
Make sure you remember your peg number, that you drew at the safety briefing during breakfast.
Enjoy your day, give us constructive feedback on how we can improve your future simulated game shooting days.
Have you already experienced simulated game shooting, tell us about it!
If you are a pro at simulated game shooting, please give feedback to your host for the day.
