Shooting begins 1st of November through to the 31st of Janurary. There is an excellent walk up rough shoot for woodcock and snipe in our private grounds. We organise shooting parties, dogs, gun licenses etc.
Driven snipe is possibly the most challenging of all forms of shooting, and bags vary according to the experience of the guns (seven to ten cartridges fired to one bird down is the average) and the number of birds shown. Being migratory birds, nothing is certain and individual drives can vary from a handful to several hundred birds being put over the guns. All birds shot are shared between the guns.
To shoot two woodcock with consecutive shots and without the gun being remounted, is referred to as a "right and left." Anyone shooting a right and left at woodcock and who has it witnessed by two independent parties, can apply to become a member of the "Woodcock Club." This UK society was formed solely for shooters who have achieved a right and left and who have had their kills confirmed by witnesses. Ireland has more than its share of Woodcock Club members due to the large numbers of the birds that migrate to its shores annually. That and the fact that most woodcock shooting in Ireland is of the walked-up variety where it is more likely that birds will be flushed in groups rather than individually.
A great day had by all in the party,some of the finest shooting can be had in the waterville area.
