Unsurprisingly, given the name, simulated game seems to be more popular among bored game shooters than it is with those whose main concern is birds of the clay variety. Sure, sim game serves the important purpose of cheering up all those pheasant-less fieldsports enthusiasts during their annual post-season withdrawal episode, but it is also a wonderful, sociable pastime that should not be overlooked by the die-hard clay shots among us. I was reminded of this in February when I attended a cracking simulated day, hosted by Drennan and Ashley Kenderdine at Beckbury, Shropshire.
Now, I love a day at the clay ground as much as the next bitumen buster, but if you’re after something a little bit special to do with a group of friends, or just fancy a change to keep things interesting, I would urge you to check out the huge range of sim game days available throughout the country. Some will be better than others, of course, and luckily for me, Drennan and Ashley are well versed in the essential ingredients required to produce the perfect day.
First on the list is the setting. Beckbury is a beautiful estate of rolling hills and farmland, with swathes of tall woodland that help create stunningly realistic pheasant and partridge simulations. It is also situated close by two absolute essentials for the travelling shooter – a nice, affordable hotel, and an even nicer traditional rural pub. We met the team of 15 shooters and five loaders in the latter for a coffee and a bacon bap before getting going, which brings me neatly onto the second and third essential ingredients of a good day – the food and the company.
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Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Sporting Shooter.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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RSPB gives mixed message on shooting
Having recently attended the RSPB’s virtual AGM, Conor O’Gorman discusses the outcome of the charity’s year-long review of game bird shooting
Causeway for concern
Alan Jarrett’s renewed interest in reading takes him down memory lane to an offshore island duck flight that very nearly ended in disaster
Through a purple patch
The Garrows Estate is taking a conservation-focused approach to restoring the wildlife populations and biodiversity on the Scottish heather moorland.
When the wheels fall off
Losing form on a day’s shooting can be infuriating, especially if you’ve been shooting like a god up to that point. Simon O’Leary looks at some common causes and how to remedy them
Beaches, books & bad behaviour!
The annual Kay family vacation to Northumberland offers a chance to give the cockers a blast on the beach – although they don’t always shower themselves in glory, as Ryan Kay recalls...
Using the Stop whistle
Now you’ve instilled the basics, it’s time to up the ante with some more tricky distance work. Howard Kirby explains how to take the core Stop whistle command to the next level
The humble teal
They may be tiny, but as far as Rupert Butler is concerned, the appeal of this little duck is huge. He recalls some of his most memorable nights in pursuit of these aerial acrobats
Fab all-rounder
Mike is impressed with the Fabarm Elos B2 Field Notte, which offers great value for money, is suited to fieldwork or clays and is future-proofed for use with steel in all choke constrictions
CALL OF THE WILD
Dom Holtam reconnects with one of the purest forms of shotgun shooting as he walks-up woodcock over pointing dogs in the Scottish Highlands
A yen for the Fens
Tony Jackson recounts a memorable duck flight over an area of Fenland in Norfolk with his friend and author, the late Alan Savory
