Partridge Shooting Season - Here’s what you need to know.

Partridge shooting season is a time of year every shooter should be looking forward to. The crisp Autumn air, the changing leaves, and the partridge on which to shoot.

If you're looking to get started with game shooting and fancy your hand at partridge, let’s go through what you need to know, starting with some dates.

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When is partridge shooting season?

The partridge shooting season starts on the 1st September – 1st February in England, Scotland and Wales, however in Northern Ireland the partridge shooting season runs from the 1st September – 31st January.

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What kind of partridge are we looking for?

The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is the most common but is not actually native to Britain, having been successfully introduced to East Anglia in about 1770, using stock from France.

Before then the native grey partridge (Perdix perdix) was the predominant game bird, though efforts to re-introduce this have been largely unsuccessful.

Around 12 million red-legged partridges are released to be shot each year in the UK and their breeding and release is now completed under license from the government in order to be better able to protect ecosystems from what is essentially an invasive species.

The interim licensing regime comes into effect for the 2021 partridge shooting season and covers European protected sites.

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Top tips for shooting partridge

1. Keep the noise down. Partridge rely on their hearing to detect incoming danger and it’s extremely important that the noise you make is kept to a minimum. This will help you get closer to the partridge and make your shot easier.
2. Remember your lead hand. A wise partridge shooter will always have a gun in their lead hand, this is so that they can fire at the partridge immediately upon seeing it instead of having to chance moving a gun from one hand to another and slowing themselves down. Trust your instincts and do not hesitate.
3. Good footwork. Start by placing your feet in the right position, then make sure the barrel is aligned with your cheek and shoulder. The shot is taken without hesitation, with a positive conclusion, so keep the shotgun moving after you have taken a shot.
4. Practice. Use a pair of snap caps so you can practice both your gun mounting and pulling the trigger with a moving gun. After time it becomes second nature and will pay dividends in the field.
5. Attune to the field. When shooting partridge, it is important to get to know your surroundings in order to predict where the birds will be flying into. Study the cover and try to anticipate where your birds might come from.
6. Stay safe. Before shooting your gun, make sure you’re in a safe position. Check the line of Guns and its angles of fire before you shoot. Always check with your host on any rules governing the line of shot and being able to shoot behind as well as forward.

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Conclusion

There is no shooting season quite like it. Here at David Beardsmore Shooting we think that anyone who has not experienced partridge shooting should do so at least once in their life. We offer pheasant and partridge days at 4 exclusive estates on the Shropshire / Worcestershire border.

If you are interested in getting involved with any type of shooting then please contact us for advice and information.

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