Pigeon Flighting is one of the most testing, varied and unpredictable forms of shooting, you are at the mercy of the conditions and the birds! We are fortunate enough to be able to offer Pigeon Fligthing with our Shooting Syndicate on the boundary of our plantation in one of the most stunning settings on the edge of the North Pennine Grouse Moors.

Above: Sam stood at the "fell wall" as a Pigeon approaches. 

The best flighting tends to be from early summer through into winter with Pigeons flighting from mid-afternoon onwards. To get the best of the shooting a good wind should be blowing from the west and in these conditions incoming Pigeons hug the contours of the moorland as they flight up to our wood. In ideal conditions birds flight over a fairly narrow corridor about 150 yards wide and this will stand three guns who all get a fair share of the sport. Guns are placed on the boundary of our wood behind a Dry Stone Wall with open views across the Grouse Moors and down the Tees Valley. Shooting is difficult, the birds present a testing shot and one wrong move means they see you and flare away out of range.

The first question most people ask is “how many will I shoot?” Well we can’t give any guarantee as sport is dependant on the prevailing weather conditions and the feeding grounds been used by the Pigeons. Last we I had a couple of evenings out with my little lad and not fired a shot, on the other we went out last night and in an hour fired 90 shots. Looking back at records we most frequently come away with 15-20 birds. That said the sport we are offering is not about the size of the bag, the thrill is in the unpredictability, the extremely testing nature of the shot and the location.

Above: After feeding the Ducks and Pheasants Sam and Dad enjoyed a short Pigeon Flight.

 We have priced our Pigeon Fligthing at just £40 per gun per flight. A flight will usually be about 3 or 4 hours and you will be accompanied by a member of our Shooting Syndicate who will guide you. Once you are settled in your Guide will probably shoot from a nearby position on the flightline (50+ yards away) and will help with retrieving, etc. The flight line is wide enough to accommodate two guns and our guide.