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<h1>Game bird shoots in Africa</h1>
Orange River and Shelley's Francolins (Partridges); African Quail; and (see 2 below) Cape Turtle, Laughing and Redeyed Doves
It took Gamebirds and its associates many seasons to develop all wild bird driven shooting in the African veld to the point where, for the past 12 years, it has been the highlight of bird shooting safaris through Africa for many sporting visitors. Although the principles of driving game birds are the same in Africa as they are in the UK and Europe, the practice is somewhat different. (The biggest difference being that all African game birds are wild).
Driven shoots in Africa demand large teams of beaters to cover the hundreds of acres in a single drive; to provide challenging and exciting sport for the guns, showing quick or tall birds, requires presenting the widest possible variety of different African game birds (spurfowls/francolins/quails/pigeons/doves and guineafowl) in a drive; whilst consistently good daily bags of wild birds are maintained, year on year, by directly relating annual productivity to seasonal off-take.
After a dawn start from the Train, or your Lodge, there will be 8 to 12 drives in the day’s driven shooting with a day’s bag expectation of 175–300 birds, depending on season, weather, skill and number of guns. The beaters, 150 or more, start as much as a kilometre away from the gun line, driving the birds on with chanted voice, flapping red flags and beating the bush with hunting sticks.
Gun lines are long, wide, straight, and cleared of bush, with the butts spaced equally along them (up to 40 metres apart) and numbered 1 to 10 for eight (min) to ten (max) individual guns. It’s always a good walk from one end of the line to the other but, please note, except for those requiring physical assistance, we generally cannot drive you to your butt.
<a href="openshoot.htm">Type of gamebird - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots.htm">Upland Game Birds - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots1.htm">Driven Doves - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots2.htm">Flighted Sandgrouse - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots3.htm">Flighted Waterfowl - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots4.htm">Doves & Pigeons - shoots</a>
<a href="shoots5.htm">Walked-up Partidges - shoots</a>
<a href="open.asp">Game Birds - Home</a>
As retrieving gundogs are few and far between in Africa each gun is allocated, and then accompanied by, two “picker-up” fellows for the day – they will be with you at your butt to mark down, retrieve and carry all your birds. A busy day of active shooting is in store for you. Lunch, always superb cuisine, is often a traditional “braaivleis” (barbecue) and served in the field or at your host’s home on the estate. The most attractive aspect of driven shooting on Gamebirds private estates is that it’s all totally wild and indigenous, personal and private, as you will see. The birds and wildlife, the landscape and atmosphere, the hospitality. But, best of all, it is sustainable. Driven shooting in Africa provides an exciting day afield – woe betide the gun who nods off in the middle of a drive!
What You Need for Driven Bird Shooting on Gamebirds Private Estates:
Weather Clear and cold mornings and evenings. Warm during the day. Be ready to shed warmer clothing as the day goes by. A very small chance of damp weather which, if it happens, will not disrupt the shooting.
Clothing Stout walking/shooting boots or shoes. It’s sandy and dusty in these areas. Generally flat or gently rolling countryside with thorny bushveld. However, as it is driven shooting, you may be more comfortable with just stout shoes and thick socks. If you want to walk with the beaters (by arrangement) be ready for thorn bush and tangle. Hat. Block-out sunscreen. Binoculars. Personal items for the day
Cartridges (Supplied all inclusive) For a day of driven shooting Gamebirds provides each gun with 150 rounds of 65 or 70mm No. 5s in 32gm lead shot load.
Guns etc: 2 guns if you want, but you will have to do your own loading of the second gun. (Your butt assistants are specifically forbidden from touching or having anything to do with your gun(s) other than to carry them for you when secured in a padded sleeve) Gamebirds special padded gun sleeve, leather cartridge bag & light folding portable chair. (All 3 items are provided for your personal use for the duration of your safari) Gloves/gun barrel guard in case of hot barrels.
Final Note and Caution - Applicable to all Safaris:
NO REPEATING, AUTOMATIC OR PUMP ACTION SHOTGUNS ARE ALLOWED ON ANY BIRD SHOOT. ONLY SIDE BY SIDE OR OVER AND UNDER GUNS OF 12, 16, 20, 28 OR 410 CALIBRE.
(Note: Cartridges supplied by Gamebirds are for 12 and 20 bore guns only)
Other species occurring on Gamebirds walked-up shoots (illustrated in 1 and 5 above) are: Guineafowl and Rock Pigeon
South Africans have been shooting both Greywing and Redwing since the turn of the century and the sport is, to this day, still regarded by local guns as the cream of our walked-up shooting. Both for the superb wildness and speed of these birds as for the landscape and atmosphere in which one is shooting. Here, they are known as the “champagne birds” of walked-up shooting. A day with these two different “partridges” will almost certainly give you Black Eagles to see drifting about the mountain tops, Vaal and Mountain Reedbuck, hares and a host of other mountain wildlife.
Walked-up shooting in the mountains of the Cape, at over 5000 feet above sea level, is a very special experience. Crisp, clear, and very beautiful, with vistas and long range landscapes in every direction. Pristine. Wild. No trees. Good stiff walking in grassland country, without bogs or long tangly vegetation and slippery wet slopes, as with the grouse in Scotland. It will mostly be dry and warm during the middle of the day and, with wind, expect a sensational performance from the birds! It is a day of good walking, up and down. For some, it will be strenuous.
Both Greywings and Redwings occur in coveys of around 6 birds up to, at times, 40 or more. The average covey size for Greywings is 9 and for Redwings it is 6. They are best hunted behind pointers or setters and hold well to these dogs. In a good day we will flush 100-120 birds for a group of 3-6 (max) guns, and a bag of over 40 for a full shooting party is regarded as excellent. Usually 30 is about right. The record is 67 to six guns.
The party of guns follow the land-owning shoot “host”, who will be working his pointers or setters and his field assistants in a wide arc about 100 metres in front of the guns. When the dogs go “on point” the guns move up behind and around the point. The host then moves up to his dogs to flush the game birds for the guns. All then follow-up on where the game birds have settled, and repeat the exercise. We limit the number of birds taken, from each covey, to 40% of the numerical strength of that covey. Your host counts, measures and records everything to do with his birds, further noting anything of biological significance seen during the day. Lunch in the field is light, warming, picnic style, simple farm fare accompanied by excellent local beers.
For clients living in South Africa we also have horseback riding on Greywing shoots, specifically for those who cannot walk or prefer to go out on horseback. One must be reasonably proficient on and with a horse to choose this method of “transport” for Greywing shooting. The horses are generally docile, surefooted, sheep herding stockman’s Basotho mountain ponies, mostly ridden with traditional English saddles.
The horseback shoots entail following the pointers until they point. Then dismounting and walking-up to the point to flush the birds. We do not shoot from the horse’s back.
What You Need for Walked-Up Partridge Shooting on Gamebirds Private Estates:
Weather: As it is late autumn/early winter in these mountain areas, it will be crisp to cold, particularly in the mornings. Warms up by midday and cools down again as evening settles. There is a small chance of bad weather - light, foggy rain and/or, very occasionally, snow. In the event of really bad weather it is too dangerous to go out in these mountains, either on foot or on horseback, and thus we would certainly cancel the shoot. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY REFUNDS IN SUCH AN EVENT. Chances? 1 day in 60 days.
Clothing: Stout walking boots with ankle support. Well soled grip-type footwear is essential. Warm socks. (For riding make sure you have thick trousers). Long trousers and long sleeved shirts. Caps or hats. For some, sunglasses, gloves. Underwear - we all wear silk long johns and vests - as they breathe properly when it warms up. Anorak or warm Barbour type shooting jacket with big pockets for cartridges. Or use cartridge belt. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IS THE GAMEBIRDS PADDED FULL LENGTH GUN SLEEVE ON ALL (REPEAT ALL) SHOOTS. These are zippered and firmly padded canvas covered sleeves in which a fully assembled shotgun can be transported or stored, and carried across, or on, a shoulder during a day’s shooting. Without this sleeve you will not be able to adequately protect your shotgun on any African shoot. Least of all whilst horseback riding in the mountains.
Etceteras: Ancillaries would be a packet of glucose sweets, or chocolate, an apple or other “wet” fruit, plus personal items for a day out and about. (Tissues or a few sheets of loo paper). Just be prepared to shed clothing as the day warms up - if it does - but watch out for wind and its cooling effect. Wind makes the birds fly brilliantly - but has its side effects!
Cartridges: (Supplied all inclusive) For a day of walked-up shooting Gamebirds provides each gun with 50 rounds of 65 or 70mm No. 5s in 28 or 32 gm lead shot loads.
Guns, etc: One gun only. Game birds special padded gun sleeve, leather cartridge bag & light folding portable chair. (All 3 items are provided for your personal use for the duration of your safari) Gloves. Cartridge belt.
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