Wing Shooting Hunts

Wing Shooting Hunts

Merriam-Webster defines wing shooting as “the act or practice of shooting at game birds in flight or at flying targets.”

Shooting a bird out of the sky with a shotgun is one of the greatest challenges in hunting. Doing it once or twice a season is tough enough; doing it consistently from one year to the next, with a variety of species, can seem nearly impossible.

Achieving a level of proficiency with a shotgun is much more difficult than with a rifle. That’s because wing shooting, the art of hitting flying targets with a shotgun, occurs on a much more instinctive level.

With a rifle, there’s usually time to adjust the aim and correct mistakes before they happen. With a shotgun, there isn’t. Once the quarry flushes into the air, there are only seconds at most to shoulder the gun and fire.

Lots can go wrong, and it usually does. For example, you grip your shotgun too tight, and it twists off target as you pull the trigger. Or you don’t get a proper lead by swinging the barrel through the fast-moving target, and the pellets pass through the empty airspace in the bird’s wake. Or you simply miscalculate the bird's speed, angle, and distance, and your shot is wildly off.

The only way to get really good with a shotgun is to spend a lot of time shooting clay targets at the range. It takes hours of practice and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to get good enough that you can hit a fast-flying bird.

European Wing Shooting Hunts

Generally, it is said that Europe is the real center for wing shooting. No matter whether your goal is wild ducks, high-flying pheasants, grouse moors, or challenging pigeons, Europe can deliver the goods and, at the same time, offer reasonable prices and short travel times. 

If you enjoy shooting wood pigeons, England is tough to beat. No other destination will offer you a better chance of achieving a day when a single hunter bags over 100 pigeons. High-volume pigeon shoots in England have always been a great attraction. Still, with populations of woodpigeons having increased dramatically over the last 25 years in most areas, the shooting has never been better than it is now. Whether you would prefer to stay on a grand estate or in the local pub is up to your preferences, both are possible and in any case, prices are at a level that is affordable by most. Of course, arranging pheasant hunting on an English country estate is possible, but the price will be significantly higher. But should you decide that’s the hunt for you, a traditional pheasant shoot on a grand country estate will be the experience of your life.

Until recently, France was overlooked as a hunting destination, but recently it has become a very popular destination for bird hunters as it can offer good, well-organized hunting. At the same time, the weather and cuisine rarely disappoint. On top of this, the cost of hunting is very competitive, and hunters find it easy to combine their trip with a family holiday, as many of the hunting districts lie either in, or very close to, some of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. 

The French are also very proud of their traditions regarding wing shooting. You just need to look at the number of European bird dog breeds that originate in France: the Breton, Epagneul Francais, Braque Francais, Braque Bourbonnais, etc., not to mention the poodle, which in the USA is best known as a house dog, but in its homeland is often encountered as a hard-working retriever, both on land and in water.

Usually, the estates arrange wing shooting in France, and many primarily focus on pheasant beats. However, it is possible to shoot pheasant, partridge, woodcock, and other birds on walk-up hunts in the beautiful French countryside.

You must visit Scotland if you are a passionate shotgun hunter. Grouse shooting there is in a class of its own. It is also rather expensive, at least when it comes to organized beats. However, there are many places in Scotland where you can shoot grouse with standing dogs over moorland, and prices are much more affordable. This type of hunting is much more physically demanding, as conditions in the Scottish Highlands can be rather harsh. Scotland has some of the best woodcock and snipe hunting that Europe can offer.

Many wing shooters don’t give Hungary a single thought as a possible destination, which is a great mistake. Hungary is possibly the country that offers the most varied wing shooting of all. It is best known for its amazingly well-organized shoots for pheasants and ducks on the estates, but Hungary also offers challenging shooting for wild birds. Along the Danube River, you can hunt wild ducks, while out in the fields, you can enjoy high-volume pigeon shooting. On top of this, woodcock, snipe, quail, partridge, and geese are available. Hungary can offer everything a wing shooter’s heart might desire!

South America Wing Shooting Hunts

Some of the best wing shooting in the entire world is in South America, specifically Argentina. You can experience high-volume dove shooting in Cordoba. Argentina should be on every hunter’s Bucket List, and most hunters find themselves returning many times. Combine a dove hunt with a duck hunt, and a hunter can experience the best of both worlds! Between the excellent food, service, and accommodations, Argentina is a fantastic option for a family or group. Do not overlook the big game hunting that Argentina has to offer as well. Argentina holds the best free-range Red Stag hunting in the world.

Mexico Wing Shooting Hunts

Hunting in Mexico is like hunting in the glory days of wing shooting in the United States. The dove shooting in Mexico is nothing short of spectacular. White-winged and Mourning doves and pigeons are so numerous in Mexico that they’re considered a pest by the farmers. Thousands of acres of corn and sorghum fields are available to hunt, and extensive pre-hunt scouting keeps driving times to the shooting areas to a minimum.

North America Wing Shooting Hunts

North America offers the traveling bird hunter a wide range of wing shooting opportunities, from wild, black-faced quail in the Yucatan to willow ptarmigan in Alaska. With multiple flyways routing millions of birds in the fall, North America has some of the best and most varied wing shooting in the world. Combine that with the quail, pigeon, and pheasant hunting and the US is truly a wing shooters paradise!

African Wing Shooting Hunts

Southern Africa offers some of the world’s finest wing shooting. The diverse habitat, ranging from barren, windswept mountains down to sub-tropical low-lying wetlands, provides a large variety of game birds. Whether for the collector of specific game bird species or the avid wing shooter seeking the ultimate bird hunting experience, premier wing shooting areas are available for all enthusiasts. Wing shooting in Africa and South Africa always delivers excellent results.

Bird hunting seasons vary from area to area, but generally, March through September are the prime months. The beginning of the season provides for some of the world's finest hot barrel pigeon shooting.