WINGSHOOTING

Bird hunting takes place on numerous concession areas in excess of 100 000 acres. These hunting areas are mainly restricted to the Free State, Northern Cape, Northwest and KwaZulu Natal Provinces. An abundance of gamebirds (19 species) are found in these areas, including the following species: 

• Grey-wing Patridge                    

• Orange River Patridge

• Swainson's Francolin 

• Common Quail

• Namaqua Sandgrouse

• Burchell's Sandgrouse

• Rock Pigeon

• Feral Pigeon

• Red-eyed Dove

• Cape Turtle Dove

• Laughing Dove

• Egyptian Goose

• South African Shelduck

• Yellow-billed Duck

• Cape Teal

• Red-billed Teal

• Cape Shoveller

• Southern Pochard

• Spur-winged Goose

The most attractive aspect of hunting on our concession areas is that the birds are all totally wild and indigenous. The hunting is personal, private and best of all sustainable.

Upland Birds

Walked -up Shoots

Francolin (Swainson's), patridges (Grey-wing and Orange River) and common quail are walked-up over pointer dogs. They hold well to the point, allowing the guns to get up in time for the flush and when flushed they offer challenging passing and overhead shots. Francolin and patridge coveys consists of between 2 to 30 birds while guineafowl are found in flocks, sometimes more than a 100 birds strong. Guineafowl are walked-up in dense cover where the dogs normally flush them in one's and two's. Shoots continue until late morning and resume in the late afternoon. Shoots take place in open grassveld, thornveld along riverbanks and corn or maize fields. The bag limit per hunter per day is generous. On average, you can expect to shoot your bag limit per hunter per day.  The actual number of birds taken depends on the shooting ability of the shooter(s).

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

Driven Shoots

Driven guineafowl shooting provides an exciting day afield.Normally, there will be between 8 -10 drives a day with a days bag expectation of between 140 -200 birds, depending on weather, skills and number of guns. Beaters, 30 or more, start as much as a kilometer away from the gun line, driving the birds on with chanted voice and flapping white flags.The gun lines are long and the butts are spaced equally along the line (up to 50 yards apart) and are number (normally from 1 to 10). Each gun is allocated a “picker-up”, whose duty it is to mark and retrieve your downed birds and to tidy up after you. A busy day is normally in store for you.

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

Flighted Shoots

Sandgrouse (Namaqua and Burchell's) is hunted close to waterholes in the Northern Cape Province. Sandgrouse hunting is one of the most beautiful shoots that one can imagine. The butts are placed so that the guns shoot the incoming packs and swarms as high flighting birds. When there is wind the sandgrouse is as quick and as difficult as the very best of anything in the world of of flighted gamebirds. It is truly exciting shooting, with large flocks often dominating the guns and making it very difficult to select a bird. Each butt is number and each has it's own “picker-up” whose duty it is to mark and retrieve the fallen birds, to retrieve spent cartridges, to tidy up, and to assist the gun. The bag limits are small.  For Namaqua sandgrouse the bag limit is 10 birds per hunter per day and for  Burchell's 5 birds per hunter per day, depending on the districts where the hunts take place. The hunting season in the Northern Cape is restricted from 1 April to 15 July.  You can expect to shoot your bag limit per day.

Pigeon (Rock) and doves (Laughing, Cape Turtle and Redeye) hunting is mainly restricted to sunflower fields where they congregate in huge numbers, thereby allowing hunters some volume shooting the whole day. The sight of approaching rock pigeon flocks, often in excess of 200 birds, raises the excitement of even the most avid bird hunter.This, together with the fact that Rock Pigeon are regarded as the fastest flying gamebird, often flying high, makes them the most sought-after gamebird in South Africa. Rock Pigeons feed in two sessions, early morning, from just after dawn to 09H00, and then again from 11H30 up until 17H30, depending on the season and weather of the day.

Doves tend to fly the whole day, from just after dawn to just before dusk. The butts/hides are placed so that the guns shoot the incoming and outgoing birds. Each butt/hide is number and each has it's own “picker-up” whose duty it is to mark and retrieve the fallen birds, to retrieve spent cartridges, to tidy up, and to assist the gun. There is no bag limit when hunting pigeon and doves. One can expect to shoot 350 - 750 shots and more per client per day. This is really some unnerving high volume shooting and definitely not intended for the faint of heart. 

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl, mainly Egyptian & Spurwing geese and South African Shellduck are hunted over decoys in " typical layout blind fashion"; on their flight lines to corn and maize fields and while flying in and out of nearby lakes. Teal and duck hunting are mainly restricted to lakes and small pans where they are hunted over Mojo ducks from blinds and while flying in and out from feeding schemes. Some birds will be high, coming over in flights and singles, other low and in groups of varying size, whistling in past you. Many other species of waterfowl and waders will also be about, make it a very special place to be.Retrieving gundogs will retrieve fallen and wounded birds during the hunt.  These waterfowl shoots are restricted to early morning and late afternoon. The bag limit per hunter per day is generous. On average you can expect to shoot your bag limit per day depending on circumstances and the shooting abilities of the shooters. Again the shooting is for totally wild birds on well managed concession areas.

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

Daily Rates for 2010: $ (USD)

Wingshooting Daily Rates 2010.

A Wingshooting trip can also be combined with a trophy hunting and or tailor-made safari or organized tour.

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

Gauge, Shotshell Lengths, Shot Size and Chokes.

The overwhelming choice for bird hunting is the 12 gauge, although some hunters prefer a 20 gauge due to the lighter recoil and good performance of a reasonable lighter gun. In South Africa 12 gauge shells are available in lengths of 2 3/4 and 3 inches and 20 gauge only in 2 3/4” shells. Shot is made of lead, and a profusion of loads and shot sizes is readily available.

Gamebird	Suggested Shot Size	Suggested Chokes	Recommendation
Geese	BB, #1,2,3	Full - for longer overhead & passing shots. Modified - for closer shots over decoys.	Geese hunters need big loads with large shot. #3 is need for a denser pattern at shorter ranges over decoys.
Ducks	#4,5,6	Full - for longer overhead & passing shots. Modified - for closer shots over decoys.	For long-range use #4, and #5 & 6 over decoys.
Francolin	#5,6	Full for long shots. Modified - for close cover over dogs.	For all round use #5 & 6 is the favourite, #5 for long shots.
Quail	#7,8	Modified.	For wild flushing quail larger shot is needed.
Sandgrouse	#6	Modified - at normal ranges.	This compact little bird takes a lot of pellets to bring down.
Pigeon & Doves	#7& 71/2	Modified.	Because dove and pigeon hunting is high volume shooting, lighter loads (28 g) is recommended. For highflying pigeons, which are tough, larger shot is needed. For doves at normal range #7 1/2 is good.

Effective Range

When hunting with 2 3/4 and 3” shotshells the conservative range is 45m. When using 3 1/2" shotsells the range is 55m. When in doubt, only shoot when the colour of the legs and the feet of gamebirds are clearly distinguishable. One should always remember that the risk of wounding a bird increases exponentially with longer range.

Firearm Importation Legislation

No more than one firearm per caliber and 200 rounds per firearm will be permitted. No ammunition for other rifle calibers will be permitted. An exception to this may apply for shotguns where more than one of the same caliber may be allowed for bird hunting purposes if the client produces on arrival at the SAPS Gun Office an acceptable written motivation as to why more than one is required.

No automatic or semi-automatic shotguns are allowed into South Africa. A semi-automatic shotgun for bird hunting purposes may be allowed  into South Africa if a permit is granted before arriving in South Africa. 

Download the SAP520 Weapon Permit for your hunting needs.

Client Profile Form 

After booking a safari, you will receive a Client Profile Form to complete, in order to assist us in the formalities regarding your hunt.

Visit  our  wingshooting image gallery for exciting photos of recent gamebird hunts.

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