OVERSEAS SHOOTING: SPAIN
Fun Indeed Was Had On Our Recent Trip To Northern Spain Along With Some Really Great Shooting
By Tara Jackson
Now, hopefully knowing my audience, I suspect your real interest is the shooting. The terrain is excellent, more like say the Lake District or even Scotland than what you might imagine of Spain. Our host, Emilio, has access of over 1,000 hectares for shooting within a specially designated hunting area giving him a huge choice of areas to select from based on the team’s abilities and requirements.

A concern I had is that birds are not driven up; rather they are released during the shooting. However, this system is adopted in Spain and certain other European countries as the reality is that if birds were reared and released as in the UK, there are so many predators they simply would not survive more than a few days rendering shooting on any real scale impossible, thus there is little alternative. But Emilio and his team work hard to ensure the good care of the quarry from rearing up to and including release.

A typical day comprises 150 – 250 birds as selected and teams of six to eight Guns. Guns can select partridge, pheasant, pigeon, or a mix of these. The line is located in a “bowl” or “trough” so they either have hills all around them or in front and behind. Birds are released above the Guns from both ends of the line. The pace and number of birds released at each time can be determined by the Guns’. The release points are hidden by hides and, as Guns are in the dip, cannot be seen. I had feared the birds might be predicable in their trajectory on release but this was far from correct. They were fast, started high and just got higher going in a variety of directions – with some circling back round again. In short, some excellent high bird shooting!

Each day sees a series of releases over the same venue in the morning, with Guns moving every so often along the line. Next a terrific picnic lunch of cold savouries is served on the mountain featuring traditional regional dishes plus wine, beer and the legendary home brew cider for which the region is known. Asturias has an alcohol limit for shooting so nothing stronger is provided during the day. A dessert is also supplied along with coffee. The afternoon consists of a walked up session, with Emilio’s dogs, around the shooting area used in the morning in search of any birds that might have been missed in the morning plus any wild birds (there are a few wild quail and pheasant). Shooting over two days will take place at a different location each day and the picnic content also changes.

The accommodation is very comfortable and full catering is provided – along the lines of a catered ski chalet. The Lodge has 6 twin rooms. The food and drink is both excellent and plentiful. Emilio is a generous and attentive host and wife Pilar a fine cook using fresh and local produce – much from their own garden or livestock. You will most certainly not go hungry but do beware Emilio’s home distilled liquors – delicious but highly potent!

The whole team involved in the Los Valles shoot were very welcoming and hospitable. There was a great atmosphere and they are genuinely pleased to see English visitors and show them everything they have to offer.

For non-shooting guests there is much to do, some of it is listed above but there’s also golf, boat trips, horse riding and spas. I had a great half day in the region’s capital Oviedo having lunch in the city’s historic square, sight seeing and shopping before returning to the Lodge.

Now the good news - I’m delighted we have been able to negotiate a Special Offer for MG&S customers wishing to visit before June 2012. I think you’ll agree this works out to be great value:

A 3 night stay for €6300 for a team of 6-8 Guns – USUAL PRICE €7000.
The package includes:
• Full catering – cooked breakfast, picnic lunch (as above) and evening meal. Wine, beer and cider is provided with the evening meal at no extra cost, if you prefer something else, this can be supplied and will be charged at local bar prices -very reasonable and large measures;
• Airport transfers and transfers to the shooting locations;
• 300 birds over two days with released birds in the morning and a walked up session in the afternoon. As well as partridge and the type pheasants used in the UK, alternative smaller (faster) varieties are available if you book these in advance;
• An option to increase to 400 birds over two days for an extra €2000 and if 500 birds are required in total, the extra cost would be €3800;
• Non-shooting guests are charged at €50 per person per night which includes accommodation, full catering and, exclusive to MG&S customers, an excursion (choice available but if more than one non-shooting guests, they must all pick the same one!); and
• All local taxes.

Extras would be:
• Flights (we paid under £90 return each with Easyjet who fly there daily);
• Gun transport costs – if taking your own Gun, you will need to pay a surcharge to Easyjet, have a suitable carry case and a European Firearms Pass (free to obtain). Otherwise local gun hire is €50 per day;
• Cartridges – around £25 per 100 – sold on at cost;
• Local shooting permit and insurance €67 per person – again this is supplied at cost; and
• Any extra nights or excursions booked.

The shooting season lasts all year round and shooting is allowed seven days a week. This could be a terrific way to get your eye in for the UK season.

Stalking is also available for red and roe deer. The roe season is 1 April to 30 June and the cost is €1,600 for a four day package to include the local shooting permit and four night's accommodation at Los Valles, full catering and transfers. Gun hire and insurance are extra. Red deer can be stalked from 15 September to 30 October and here the package for four nights is €2,000. All stalking is accompanied and the cost covers one animal – payable even if you do not succeed with a cull.

Any Guns with questions are welcome to contact me on tara@fast-mail.net.
Further enquiries and bookings can be made of Clive Smith (who works with Emilio and lives nearby) on crvsmith@hotmail.com.

If you are interested but do not have a team of six Guns, or have six and would like one or two more, please contact Clive as he will try to match together a party – I think I have one member of such a team in the form of Paul!