WINGSHOOTING
Safaris
We primarily offer bird shooting safaris in the Free State province & KwaZulu-Natal province because of the diverse habitat and mixed farming practices in these regions which leads to thriving game bird populations.
Free State Province
The Free State province of South Africa boasts the greatest variety of game birds in the country. Waterfowl which can be hunted include Egyptian geese, Spur winged geese, Yellow billed duck, Red billed teal and White-faced whistling ducks. Upland game birds that are prolific in this region are Helmeted guinea fowl and 3 species of Francolin as well as Quail. In addition, the Free State province is known for its astounding Rock pigeon and Dove populations, which provide guests with hot barrelled action earlier in the season during the months of March and April.
In the Free State you will be accommodated in a renovated old-fashioned ranch house with all your home comforts complete with en-suite bathroom, lovely dining room and cosy lounge area. Meals, service and hospitality are all excellent! Driving time from the nearest commercial airport in the town of Bloemfontein is roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Shooting is conducted within an 80-mile radius of the ranch house, and this allows for a variety of shooting disciplines daily. It also enables us flexibility in terms of been able to hunt various locations so that the birds are not pressured in any given area. There is no shooting permitted on Sundays.
KwaZulu-Natal Province
In KwaZulu-Natal Province we offer excellent shooting, especially for waterfowl in the foothills of the towering Drakensberg Mountains. Here we offer a diverse range of waterfowl including Spur-winged goose, White faced whistling ducks, Yellow billed duck, Egyptian goose (a duck), and Red billed teal, along with guineafowl, and francolin which are hunted over dogs, albeit on a limited basis.
Accommodation is in a renovated double story ranch house complete with separate dining area, bar, lounge and swimming pool. Each room with its own bathroom can accommodate two people comfortably. The nearest commercial airport is the town of Pietermaritzburg which is just 1 hour 50 minutes’ drive from the lodge. Here you will have access to approximately 84 farm dams and agricultural fields which the waterfowl and game birds call home.
Bambisana Limpopo
In our prized Bambisana big game hunting concession in Limpopo Province we offer a unique and very limited wing shooting experience in Big Game country. You may encounter four of Africa’s famed big 5 and other wildlife at any moment.
Here the species list includes driven Guinea Fowl, walked up Francolin, and Doves & Sandgrouse hunted over waterholes. Sandgrouse can be hunted from September until the end of November. Experience a bird shoot whilst enjoying exquisite accommodations at Pienaar Lodge, with fine dining, magical scenery all in big game country. We limit bird shoots to two a season, so if this safari appeals to you, please contact us now.
Sandgrouse are beautiful and highly sought-after in the world of bird shooting. They are hunted over waterholes in the mornings until approximately 9 am and in the evenings from just before sunset until dark. Combine Sand grouse with some exciting Dove shooting and you will have a busy morning and afternoon! Guineafowl shooting will involve beaters and flocks will be driven over the guns. Francolin will be walked up and flushed mostly along the river which runs through a section of the reserve.
It must be noted that landowners value and care for their game birds therefore populations are carefully monitored, and we strictly ensure that all shooting is done sustainably and responsibly. The wing shooting season is regulated by the Provincial Game Department.
VARIOUS SPECIES
Shooting Seasons
February, March, April & May: Rock pigeon, redeye doves, cape turtle doves, laughing doves – hunted in sunflowers and various crops, this is hot barrelled non-stop action (300-500 shots per day).
1 May – 31 August: Helmeted guineafowl, 3 Species of Francolin and Quail hunted over German shorthaired pointers. Driven shoots can be arranged. Sometimes massive flocks are encountered on crop farms or grasslands.
1 May – 31 August: All waterfowl species (Egyptian goose, Spur-winged goose, Yellow billed duck, Red billed teal, White faced whistling duck) hunted from blinds or decoys over crop fields, lakes and dams.
Seasons vary in each province.
Guests can contact us regarding shotgun hire if they don’t wish to bring their own guns, and we can also provide all the shot required. Please contact us for information on these fabulous destinations.
