South African rock pigeon shooting 2024

Decoying rock pigeons in South Africa

Rock pigeons are found in astounding numbers throughout the Free State in South Africa, the Rock Pigeon (or ‘African grey Grouse’) is a fantastically exciting pigeon to shoot! These flighty erratic rock pigeons dive and twist with displays of acrobatics at speeds of 80 mph, challenging to even the absolute best of game shots. South African rock pigeons are utterly unique, like no other bird you could shoot anywhere else in the World, considered the ultimate challenge in the world of pigeon shooting.

Driven Pigeon Shooting In South Africa rock pigeon numbers peak at Easter, making the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April the best time for high volume, driven pigeon shooting in southern Africa.

The southern African Rock Pigeon is not a “game bird”, nor is it a Dove, but a pigeon with incredible speed and airborne agility, enabling rock pigeons to out-jinx any situation. South African rock pigeons make driven red Grouse shooting look decidedly easy in comparison!

Popular inhabited regions for South African rock pigeon shooting, are primarily mixed crop farming areas with nearby mountain ranges and cities, these hunting areas are also particularly rich in Upland game birds & waterfowl.

Southern African rock pigeons and mixed Upland game and waterfowl shooting.

Your shooting skills will be tested by rock pigeons shot over sunflower stubble fields, using decoys and walked-up Duck and Snipe in marshlands. The best South African rock pigeon shooting is March and April for high-volume rock pigeon hunts; however, the best Game Bird shooting opportunities are from 1st June to 15th September, which coincides with the open season in the Free State of South Africa.

The absolute best time of year to shoot South African rock pigeons over decoys, combined with Upland game birds and waterfowl, then August and September are prime months.

Wingshooting rock pigeon hunts are social occasions, combining friends and family, ideal group sizes 4 to 8 people. Four Season Rock pigeon shooting holidays can personally bespoke your South African rock pigeon shooting trip to suit any team, however…our most popular wing shooting packages are listed above on the South Africa web page.

South African pigeon shooting 2024

South African rates for rock pigeon shooting

Duration

6 Days - 6 Nights

Package price

GBP £1170

Quarry

rock pigeons

Country

South Africa

group size

1-8

Destination

johannesburg

UK Departure

heathrow

accommodation

Farm Lodge

Food & Drink

all inclusive

seasons

March-August

Shooting South African rock pigeons in March 2022
South African rock pigeons being shot over sunflower stubble, March 2022

South African rock pigeon shooting package prices and rates 2024

Overview: South African Rock pigeon hunting description

Sunflowers rustle in the light South African warm winds that blows directly in your face, you can feel the warmth, even though the sun has only just risen in the African sky, you can feel the heat building throughout the morning. The camouflage netting blind in which you stay hidden makes you invisible to oncoming rock pigeons, with a shouted warning “no sudden movements”, absolute essential when shooting South African rock pigeon.

The Warm wind gusts, a shout out, ‘coming over at, 12 o’clock’, you look hard into the South African blue sky, way off in the distance grey specks appear in coveys of 30 to 70 rock pigeons, riding on the inward winds. Rock pigeons are coming in straight at you, upon the first shot being fired, from high above the south African scorched earth, rock pigeons descend whiffling down to head height, hugging the contours, skimming across the tops of the sunflower fields in front of you,  south African rock pigeons are now 100 yards off your position, fast paste coveys of rock pigeons approach you’re blind, your presence has not been detected.

slow gun and body movement is crucial, it is imperative you stay concealed, with deliberate focused intent, you address the rock pigeon covey with your gun barrel, you are certain the first pack you have pictured in your mind’s eye, two pegs to your right a shot is fired by a neighbouring gun, falling rock pigeons Causing your covey of pigeons to starburst right in front of you, catching you off guard, with your gun barrels left pointing into blue sky, the sound of wings cutting through the air is loud and intense, evasive action was taken by the rock pigeons, down the gun line each side of you, gunshots ring out, frantic swinging of barrels is all that can be seen as the packs of ‘rock pigeons’ head to sunflower block to the rear of the field.

Southern Africa has become a popular hunting destination on the dark continent. with an abundance of bird species available for hunting, with a plethora of hunting experiences available, affordability and great infrastructure all culminate to a world-class southern African wing-shooting rock pigeon destination. our farm lodges are easily accessible via OR Tambo Johannesburg International airport or Bloemfontein Airport, you should take this into consideration as part of the appeal in choosing southern Africa for your Rock pigeon shooting holiday.

Four Seasons shooting specialise particularly in wing shooting in Southern Africa, increased popularity over the last two decades, amongst wing shooters headed to the dark continent, testing their shotgun skills. From one end of the Free State to the other rock pigeon shooters can find more than twenty varied species of game bird shooting.

We are extremely excited to announce Four Seasons South African rock pigeon shooting hunts, are world-class experts on South African Rock Pigeons.

Four seasons can offer you a truly unforgettable experience, tailored specifically for each client’s pleasure!

Southern Africa is especially great for partners or observers, such a wealth of local highlights is available to enjoy, from horseback riding to safaris or go exploring the nearby towns and cities.

The south African Rock Pigeon is an unbelievably exciting bird to shoot! These flighty rock pigeons, turn and dive at speeds of 80 mph, making them a challenge for even the most skilful of shots. They truly are like no other pigeon you have shot anywhere in the world – considered by experts as being the most challenging pigeon on the planet! The reason this quarry is so popular with hunters around the globe, and the Free State in South Africa, can only be attributed to rock pigeons incredible combination of high speed manoeuvres, coupled with their abundance throughout the Free State which allows easy pursuit when decoying rock pigeons.

South African rock pigeons are a wing shooter’s dream come true. They are fast, agile, and skilful in flight – using automatic shotguns! These birds will challenge even the most experienced pigeon shooters all day long; there is not much that can match this kind of excitement (unless we count high-speed driven grouse). So, if you need a new challenge in life, then give us call, South African sunflower crops are currently being stripped by these speedy little feathered demons, called “Rock Pigeons.”

The early morning is the best time to shoot because it is cool, and the pigeons are hungry from their cold night on the roost. As you wait for rock pigeons to fly over your blind, other rock pigeon shooters stay hidden! The afternoon brings more activity as flocks of rock pigeons break over a line of bushes one after another like driven red grouse, a challenge that will make a pigeon shooters heart race.

Southern African rock pigeon shooting is a full day of sport, where the excitement and challenging Rock pigeons continue to come until 4 PM. “As the afternoon progresses,” one shooter says, “your skill gets further addressed by sky high rock pigeons returning from the back of the sunflower field.” The pigeon shooters will often take shots at 80+ meters up, but it is very satisfying picking out and killing rock pigeons at such astronomical heights, straightaway another rock pigeon arrives just behind the first rock pigeon you shot, screaming towards you.

Richard Mumford says that the South African Rock Pigeons are one of nature’s fastest flying birds – they can out-jinx any situation with their airborne agility.

Southern African rock pigeon shooting
Shooting rock pigeons over decoys in Southern Africa

What's Included

What's NOT Included

South African rock pigeon shooting itinerary

  • check-in 3 hours beforehand at terminal 5, London Heathrow at 15:20 for departures to South Africa with BA55
  • check-in 4 hours beforehand at terminal 5, London Heathrow at 14:24 departures with a Firearm to South Africa with BA55
  • BA 55 departure times 18:20 local time
  • BA55 landing at Johannesburg Tambo International Airport at 7:25am local time.
  • Four seasons shooting holidays representative will meet you at arrivals and escort you to your airport transfer vehicle to the Lodge, Alternatively should you be carrying a firearm you will be escorted to the local airport SAPS police station on-site at arrivals to  complete your import export permit for your firearm taking approximately one hour, you will then be escorted to your overland airport transfer vehicle or internal connecting flight.
  • Overland JNB airport to lodge transfer travel time five hours including a 30 minute lunch and toilet break.
  • Four seasons Lodge check-in  at 1:30 PM accompanied with coffee tea and snacks.
  • Evening meal will be  served from 7:30 PM
  • Drinks served at the bar with open area seating by a traditional log fire till 11 PM
  • local goose shooting  6 AM pre-hunt coffee tea and toast in the bar.
  • Bloemfontein goose shooting 5 AM pre-hunt coffee tea and toast in the bar.
  • Early morning Egyptian goose shooting in South Africa starts at 6:45 AM  concluding at 9:30 AM.
  • local Egyptian goose hunts return to the Lodge at 10 AM for full English & continental breakfast.
  • Bloemfontein morning Egyptian goose hunts will have breakfast in the field.
  • Afternoon South African rock pigeon shooting, shot over decoys with a pigeon magnet starts at 12 o’clock and concludes at 3:30 PM
  • return to the Lodge from South African rock pigeon shooting at 4 PM.
  • 4:30 PM duck & goose fed pond flight.
  • Arrive back at the Lodge by 6 PM time for a shower before your evening meal served at 7:30 PM
  • Drinks served at the bar with open area seating by a traditional log fire till 11 PM.
  • Leisurely morning  at the lodge with full English & continental breakfast.
  • Depart four seasons Lodge for JNB airport transfer from between 10 am and 12 o’clock midday.
  • Overland lodge transfer to JNB airport, travel time five hours including a 30 minute lunch and toilet break.
  • Arrive at Johannesburg Tambo International departures at 5 PM
  • BA56 departure time Johannesburg Tambo International Airport at 20:10 local time.
  • BA56 landing at London Heathrow Airport at 5:30 AM (UK) local time.

Essential South African rock pigeon shooting Information

South African rock pigeon shooting Videos

South African rock pigeon Reviews

5/5
5/5

South African pigeon hunting 2024