The “Full Monty” Simulated Game Shoot
Full day: Cost from £5,000+ VAT
This is the ‘Rolls Royce’ of our shoots where we throw out all the stops both in terms of the shooting and indeed the catering. Whilst open to all clients the day leans itself towards lavish corporate entertainment. Lunch tends to be held within our marquee which we position either to capture the view or in gardens at Hilldrop. I guess we are trying to give you a quintessential English country experience with champagne on tap and exquisite and a delicious lunch. Getting the team moving after lunch can be a challenge!
The Concept: For 18-20 Guns
Hilldrop Simulated game days, set within the stunning Marlborough Downs, are unique. You will shoot six very different drives. Where else can you shoot traditional British game birds before turning ‘Poacher’ and having a go at teal, crows, magpies, crossing pigeons, rats, rabbits and even flying squirrels. This is only part of the story as we can quicken the pulse with the likes of exploding clays, tracer cartridges and shooting at ‘clays’ with bow and arrows and Gnats, being radio controlled planes with pyrotechnics under their wings. The day is designed to be entertaining and laughter and team banter is encouraged and virtually guaranteed.
The Costs:
Our “Full Monty’ days are set up for 18-20 guests and they will enjoy five or six very challenging drives. The basic cost of the day is £5,000 plus VAT, which equates to around £300 a head; but does not include cartridges, instructors, hired guns or Gnats.
Instructors: (Optional at £100 per day)
Beginners will need an instructor and novices will almost certainly get more from the day with enthusiastic guidance from one of our team. Each of our instructors can supervise two guests but if you want to use this as a dedicated training session, we can invite Sarah White, who shoots for Great Britain, to join you for the day.
Gun Hire: (Optional at £50 per day)
If you want to save your barrels or have guests without guns, we have a selection of 12 and 20 bore estate guns available for guests. Prior notice is required.
The Drives and Format:
Meet and Greet at the Shoot room: We ask guests to arrive at 9.00am at the shoot room, which is a dedicated ‘hunting lodge’. Hot Coffee and Bacon rolls will be served on arrival to help lift your spirits from your journey. After setting the seen and a safety briefing we will set off to the shoot.
Partridge – The Somme: The Opener is predominantly an English partridge drive. The pegs are positioned within a stunning gulley with coveys of partridge and the odd higher pheasant coming over a hedge. Remembering this day is all about having fun’ your host will use this drive to assess everyone’s ability and make sure that we enthuse the beginners, challenge the experienced and humble the arrogant. We have recently built a network of First World War trenches and bunkers to add a new dimension of this drive.
High Pheasant – ‘Kite Hill’: Due to its steep valleys, Hilldrop has a reputation as a superb game shoot. Kite Hill has humbled some fine game shots and thus is a perfect backdrop for our high pheasant drive where you will be tested with 100-120 feet birds. In addition you will see some low ‘horizon hugging, crossing French partridge’, distinctive from their superior English cousins, as the Frenchmen typically fly away from the guns.
Elevenses and Semi-Automatics: Our picnic spot has spectacular views ranging for 15 miles. Pimm’s, soft drinks and homemade flapjacks are served. For those that really want to take the shooting experience to the extreme, we will give you a chance of shooting at huge flying foam clay. Sounds easy enough – right up to the point that you discover your weapons are a bow and arrow or a semi automatic paint ball gun.
Wildfowl and Vermin: Following the Pimm’s break, we will take you to the wildfowl and vermin drive, which many refer to as our signature drive. This drive should really test your game-keeping instincts! Designed to get the adrenalin pumping, one can expect to shoot flighted duck, springing teal, English partridge, crossing pigeons, magpie, coot and crows, plus the rare and rampant ‘Hilldrop Rabbit’! Some of you will be shooting from an elevated ‘tree house’. This in itself does not sound out of the ordinary but the fact that they are coming at pace from all four corners of the compass in huge numbers infers that your barrels will be roasting, you will have to look in all directions, whilst being quicker than your neighbour; who, by this stage, has almost certainly learnt one of the Hilldrop Commandments ‘thou shalt covet thy neighbours birds’!
Lunch: Lunch is an indulgent and decadent affair. The shoot room bar awaits with Rose, Cider and our own Local Ale, Ramsbury Gold, being served along side hot Porky Scratchings. Then, amongst chat of ‘ I really did shoot like Clint Eastwood’, you sit down to the likes of BBQ butterfly of lamb, a multitude of salads and flans; followed by Chocolate Biscuit cake, Cheese and Coffee.
The Woodcock: We normally run the Woodcock drive as a mini-competition; the guns are in hides within a mature Oak wood. You will be shooting at coloured clays, being woodcock but also at Rabbits, Rats and are newest pest- the Flying Squirrel!
‘Tim- Your woodcock drive was truly special- what a wake up call following our excellent lunch- It was clearly an honour to be elected to ‘ team captain’ and I felt I nailed my speech, indeed I was convinced it was inspiring , even Churchillian! We set about the Woodcock and those flaming rats with passion and initially great discipline. I knew that we were being stretched when my boys started acting like Bodie and Doyle with cries of ‘I am out -Cover Me!!’ This duly gave way to laughter and shouting of ‘Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic Mr Mannering!’, finally we descended into totally chaotic anarchy. This is the best clay drive I have ever seen- it is genius! (Letter to Tim E-C from Rupert Wiggin – Strutt & Parker)
The Grouse – ‘Ptarmigan’: Grouse is often seen as the ultimate game bird and shooting them is a completely different discipline. Grouse are lightning quick and literally hug the contours of the land. The really good shots here take them way way out in front, and simultaneously can thoroughly frustrate their neighbours by shooting their birds just as they are taking aim. Thus we have built our own grouse butts in our own to compact grouse moor. Many leave thinking this is the most exciting and memorable of all our drives.
High Pheasant – ‘The Himalayas’ : Our second high pheasant drive is situated at the foot of a hill and produces some moral destroying pheasants in the game season. This is what we are trying to simulate here. Think of the great Devon shoots such as Castle Hill and then add a bit!