Hunting

Bird Hunts

South Africa is a haven for wild bird shooting and provides the bird enthusiasts with a variety of terrain to hunt from. We offer our bird hunters Grey-Wing Partridge over trained English Pointer on the high ground from our northern camps within the Eastern Cape, or a selection of Waterfowl species, driven Guinea Fowl, and an abundance of Pigeons and Doves over sunflower or corn fields in central and northern South Africa.

While the East Cape boasts a superb variety of birds to pursue, we do not offer bird hunts solely, as birds can be erratic at times. If any hunter would like to combine his/her big game safari with a couple of bird days for either Grey-wing Partridge, Pigeons and Doves, or a Waterfowl shoot, then he/she can do so as an add-on to their safari.

GREY-WING PARTRIDGE

Grey-wing Partridge is considered by many as one of the finest upland game birds in the world. They habitat at an elevation of 5000 feet and higher in our northern concessions. These birds live in coveys of four to eighteen, with most coveys averaging ten birds. Early mornings are spent in the mountains, watching the dogs range for birds and enjoying the views, only to be disturbed by the thrill of an English Pointer on a Grey-wing point. This will leave even the most experienced of hunters grasping for his shotgun, only to see these fast flying birds disappear over the edge.

  • Hunting Season: 1 May to 31 July
  • Bag Limit: 4 birds per hunter per day

All Grey-wing hunts are offered in combination with one of our standard plains/dangerous game safaris in the East Cape.

WATERFOWL

The most common species targeted are Yellow Billed Ducks, Red Billed Teals, South African Shelduck, Spur-winged Goose and Egyptian Goose. Most species are shot from blinds on the edge of ponds and marshes, along rivers or open grain and alfalfa fields over decoys. South Africa boasts the largest Goose in the world, the Spur-winged Goose, with ganders weighing in at an average weight of sixteen pounds.

  • Yellow Billed Duck - 1 May to 31 July; 3 birds per hunter per day.
  • Red Billed Teal – 1 May to 31 July; 3 birds per hunter per day.
  • South African Shelduck – 1 January to 31 March; 2 birds per hunter per day.
  • Spur-winged Goose – 1 March to 30 September; 5 birds per hunter per day.
  • Egyptian Goose – 1 February to 3o September; 10 birds per hunter per day.
  • Cape Shoveler – 1 May to 31 July; 2 birds per hunter per day.
  • Cape Teal – 1 May to 31 July; 2 birds per hunter per day.
  • Southern Pochard – 1 May to 31 July; 2 birds per hunter per day.
  • White Faced Duck – 1 May to 31 July; 2 birds per hunter per day.

All waterfowl shoots are offered in combination with one of our standard plains/dangerous game safaris in the East Cape.

PIGEONS & DOVES

The Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove and Rock Pigeon offer a variety of flight patterns and challenging shooting. The best time of year to hunt these species and experience good numbers is in the early season (March - May), while crops are ready or are in the process of being harvested. Both dove species prefer low fast flying flight paths. While the bigger Rock Pigeons prefer a much higher flight path. Early mornings can be very busy, while midday does slow down a bit, only to pick up again in the late afternoon providing for an incredibly busy shoot and a hot barreled day when the birds are concentrated.

  • Pigeons & Doves- 1 January to 31 December; unrestricted bag limit per hunter per day.

All pigeon and dove shoots are offered in combination with one of our standard plains/dangerous game safaris in the East Cape.

DELUXE BIRD SHOOT - CENTRAL & NORTHERN SOUTH AFRICA

If you’re interested in birds only, then do let us know, as we can point you in the right direction with the best in the field of birds. Choose from either 7/10 days in groups of 6 or more guns and start with the high volume pigeons and doves before moving onto Waterfowl and a variety of Spur fowl and Francolin over pointers. Finally experience the ultimate rush and the mad flutter of wings and loud cackle as a large flock of Guinea Fowl flushes over the line at the drum beat of a hundred African “beaters”, leaving one engulfed in an experience like nowhere else on earth.

SHOTGUNS TO HIRE

For all bird hunts in South Africa we recommend a 12-gauge shotgun and at your request we can arrange for shells to be supplied. Please note, 20 Gauge shotguns are not available. We do however have a selection of 12 Gauge CZ Redhead over and under, and couple of Beretta semi-automatics. Shotgun selection is on a first come first serve basis.

Shotgun hire and shell rates as per listed rates at the time of booking.

John X Safaris