There are a couple of shotgun ranges at Royal Bisley; the first is all competition-Olympic style, with traps, skeet and sheltered shooting positions:
Long Siberia isn’t at all like that.
Essentially, it’s in the middle of a forest, with only a few open clearings to shoot from. There is no cover for the shooters, no doubt because the Brits need to practice standing in the chilly rain and trying to shoot fast-moving birds flying over the treetops while water is streaming into the eyes — you know, having fun. (An aside: Mr. Free Market has informed me that having fun at Bisley is very much frowned upon, because shooting is Serious Business, don’tcha know.)
I had more fun than a sex maniac in a brothel with a Gold Card.
Granted, it wasn’t raining, so we could leave the rain gear (wellies, Barbour coats etc.) in the Range Rover. But OMG what an experience.
Basically, one walks through the forest until a clearing opens up to a shooting position with clay activators and such. The positions are tailored to reflect the kind of birds one would be shooting: driven high birds, grouse, pheasant etc., all with the flight characteristics thereof: low skimmers, high fliers and everything in between. I’ll shut up now, and just let you take in the fun. (All pics taken by Mr. FM, with my eternal gratitude; I was having so much fun, I barely took any.)
…and let me tell you, those lil’ thangs were moving, Bubba.
… got ‘im:
All in all, I think we shot from over half a dozen shooting positions. Best of all, towards the end, I was hardly missing — and when I did, I knew immediately why and where — but as Mr. FM dryly commented, “Nothing like trigger time, dear heart.”
All good things must come to an end, and eventually Mr. FM dragged me kicking and screaming away from this wondrous place.
So massive was my pout that my friend and host had to calm my raging spirit at this fine establishment on the world-famous River Test trout-fishing stream:
A perfect ending to a perfect day…
I’d like to say I’m insanely jealous, but insane isn’t a big enough word.
Good shooting, boys! There is nothing more manly than a round of sporting clays with proper side-by-each shotties.
Say, Kim – do they have John Smith’s beer in Old Blighty? Dammitalltohell – my local supply dried up and I can’t lay hands on it for love or money! If you could pick out a keg and send back to me here in Canada (prepaid, of course) – I would sincerely appreciate it.