Join us as we take part in a driven bird shoot in Scotland, following a custom nearly as old as the shotgun itself. Developed to near perfection through the years, it is tradition every serious shotgunner should experience.

 

This is a classic Scottish driven bird shoot, held at Harburn House, one of the finest facilities in Scotland for driven bird shooting. Located about thirty miles from Edinburgh, Harburn House is situated on 2000 acres of beautiful countryside especially managed to provide a unique shooting experience.

 

The pheasants at Harburn House are as wild as any South Dakota ringneck, and some which have been driven a time or two may be wilder. They are raised from chicks and released when they are able to fly, usually in June. Other than leaving feed for the birds to keep them in the area, they are left to their own devices. A full time game manage is employed to assure the well-being of the birds.

 

Harburn House, originally built early in the 17th century, was destroyed by Comwell in 1630. Rebuilt in 1803, it was bought in 1830 by an ancestor of its present owner, Humphrey Spurway. The Manor house, which is for our exclusive use while we are there, was recently remodeled with the most modern facilities, while much of the furnishings from earlier years were integrated to provide a most pleasant combination of the old and the new.

 

The Manor house staff and chef are most accommodating and are there to provide for our every desire and comfort. The food and its presentation is done in a most elegant manner and yet the ambience remains warm and inviting.

 

The Harburn House Scottish Wingshooting Adventure is an experience that you will treasure and look forward to repeating year after year.

 

Pheasants are the primary quarry, but a mixed bag of woodcock partridge, and ducks is usually taken. The terrain is such that on most drives the birds are high and fast flying targets which will offer a challenge to the best of shots. This is driven bird shooting developed through the years to its finest degree, and is unsurpassed anywhere in the United Kingdom.

 

For safety reasons, over/under or side-by-side shotguns are preferred. While most shooters favor the 12 gauge, smaller gages are often used. Chokes should range from skeet to modified. Good ammunition is available on the grounds.

 

Our shoots are held to between seven and nine shooters, and daily bags are about 250 birds. The weather is usually quite mild in the fall, but rain is always a possibility, and you should be prepared for the possible inclement weather that can incur.

 

Three days of driven bird shooting at Harburn House and one day of exploring historic Edinburgh environs will be offered every year, along with other Scottish places of interest.

 

Special shopping and sightseeing tours are arranged for non-shooters while we are in the field.