Shooting in Africa
The quality and variety of shooting species that can be found in South Africa are staggering.
From the legendary Rock Pigeon — known for its agility and speed — to the animated guinea fowl, the African terrain provides some of the most exhilarating shooting you will ever experience.
Flighted Pigeons & Doves
Pigeons and Doves offer hot-barrel shooting, these agile birds zig-zag their way over harvested corn and sunflower fields, keeping you on your toes. Their high-speed, erratic flight patterns create nonstop excitement, especially around sunflower fields where Pigeons and Doves often flock together. With no bag limit or season due to their status as agricultural pests, the shooting is endless. While numbers peak in April and May, the action remains exceptional throughout the prime shooting months of June, July, and August.
Driven Guinea Fowl
Guineafowl combine a blend of frustration and admiration for those who have pursued them. Highly wary, they prefer running to flying when disturbed, making them a true challenge. Once airborne, they stick to a fixed escape route, testing your skill to position beaters to drive them toward the waiting guns or into dense cover where trained English Pointers can flush them out. Driven Guineafowl shooting is a thrilling and unforgettable experience, with the prime season running from May to August.
Upland Game Birds
Hunting Francolin and Spurfowl over Pointers provide exhilarating sport. Swainson’s Spurfowl are the most abundant, while the quicker, more compact Natal Spurfowl is found in smaller numbers. The rare Red-billed Spurfowl can be encountered alongside the cunning Crested Francolin and the diminutive Coqui Francolin which is found in smaller numbers still. Pointers work the wind to scent and hold the birds, setting the stage for a truly electrifying moment as the birds erupt into the air in a noisy burst.
Duck & Geese
Duck hunting in South Africa offers endless excitement and variety. The preferred method is decoy hunting on small ponds, where ducks swoop in to feed in the late afternoons. Yellow-billed Ducks, reminiscent of Mallards, dominate the action with their familiar calls and flight patterns. The lightning-fast, Red-billed Teal test even the sharpest reflexes, while White-faced Whistling Ducks often make a dramatic late entrance. With 15 waterfowl species, hunters will find plenty to enjoy. The season runs from May to August.
South Africa is home to the world’s largest goose, the impressive Spur-winged Goose, with ganders often tipping the scales at over 20 pounds. Paired with the noisy and agile Egyptian Goose, these birds provide thrilling shooting opportunities. Hunts take place from lying or standing blinds, shooting over decoys, either in the crisp early mornings or the serene evenings. With their size, power, and unpredictability, Spur-winged and Egyptian Geese offer an unforgettable challenge. The goose season runs from May to August.
Sandgrouse
These late-morning visitors to waterholes create a thrilling spectacle, making them a delight to hunt. The strategy is finely tuned: hunters form an outward-facing circle close to the waterhole, leaving a landing zone in the centre. As the Sandgrouse glide overhead and settle to drink, they provide an opportunity as they return to the skies. This hunt offers fast action paired with the added bonus of these birds being excellent eating. Sandgrouse shooting is as exciting as it is unforgettable.
Greywing
The Greywing Partridge is widely regarded as one of the finest upland game birds, often compared to the Red Grouse for its exceptional shooting quality. Found in rugged, breathtaking terrain at elevations above 5,000 feet, hunting the Greywing is no easy feat. It demands both endurance—through challenging, steep landscapes—and the skill of well-trained English Pointers, making every shot an exhilarating and rewarding challenge. The sheer excitement as a covey bursts from the thick upland grasses is totally
unparallel.
Snipe
Snipe are elusive wading birds, sensitive to rainfall and found in shootable numbers during wet years in wetlands and marshes. Known for their incredible speed and erratic flight, they are one of the most challenging quarry. Using dogs to flush them from their hiding spots, Snipe explode from the ground in a sudden, zig-zagging burst, darting away at an astonishing pace. Hunting them is a true test of skill, making their pursuit an unforgettable challenge as well as a privilege.
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