European Hunting Trips

Trek Safaris offers a variety of shooting in Europe. Shooting in countries such as England, Scotland, Slovakia, Hungary and Ireland have been a tradition for hundreds of years. Driven pheasant shooting has been called "the sport of kings" as royalty have participated in this type of shooting since shotguns were created.

Note that any type of driven pheasant, partridge or duck is called "shooting". If you are going after wood pigeons or same type of wild game (ducks, geese, etc.) it is called "hunting". Actually "hunting" to most people who live in the United Kingdom means a fox hunt. Shooting is a sport where the game is raised, then a detailed and well planned drive or shoot is organized.

For 2002 Trek will have two driven shoots in the UK; a driven pheasant shoot at Newlands Estate in central Scotland, and a driven partridge shoot in the Scottish Highlands. As well we will be running several shoot in Slovakia and Hungary. All these trips take place in late Fall - mid October to mid November. The birds are actually hatched in the Spring and aren't strong, fast flyers until the Fall.

Driven shooting in this part of the world is meant to challenging and difficult. A predetermined bag limit is set before the shoot (almost all our trips work out to be about 38 to 50 birds per person, per day). A full line (or group) of shooters is eight in the UK and Hungary with more exclusive private lines of four to six in Slovakia. Veteran shooters on these type shoots will pass up easy, lowing flying birds. They want to see high, fast birds, A good shoot is determined by the number of shells spent to get the bag limit. Three or four shells per bird for a good shooting group is acceptable. An estate or shoot that does not offer quality shooting does not last long as it is a small shooting circle that make these type trips. A reputation of poor birds dooms a shoot quickly. Trek has made sure that all our shoots offer high quality shooting, accommodations, food and service.

Also for 2002 we are offering wood pigeon hunting. The wood pigeon is considered one of the craftiest and most difficult to hunt birds in the world. The method of hunting is similar to duck hunting but only is done on dry ground. Well-constructed hides, or blinds, are set up in a harvested and pre selected grain field. Pigeon decoys are set up around the hide. And you wait for the pigeons to come. It's not high volume but quite fun. Some days can produce 10-12 box shoots but 4-6 boxes are more common. Trips for wood pigeon run April, May, July and August. Accommodations are at the Huntly Castle Hotel in Huntly, Scotland. Trips are limited to six hunters per trip but non-hunters are definitely welcome.