Extended Clay Shooting in Bedfordshire

Spring has finally sprung! The sun was shining as Gemma and I travelled up to Sporting Targets in Bedfordshire to take part in a Clay Pigeon Shooting experience. We couldn’t wait to get outdoors for the day!

Sporting Targets is tucked away in the countryside, mainly to reduce the risk of noise to their neighbours, but also to take full advantage of the beautiful 40-acre complex. Being one of the largest and top clay pigeon shooting clubs in the UK, we were thrilled to have been invited.

Once parked up we ventured into the clubhouse fronting Sporting Targets. As we were a little early, we were shown to a comfortable seating area where food and drink was available. We tucked straight into the deliciously affordable menu. Gemma chose a pesto and mozzarella panini, whereas I went for an overly tempting jacket potato with beans and cheese…to say the least we were not disappointed, huge portions brought out with a side salad, Yum! Once lunch had finished, we were introduced to John, one of the coaches, who would be taking us for our experience today. His friendly welcome and outgoing persona put us right at ease, ready to enjoy clay pigeon shooting at our own pace.

John then took us outside into the sunshine for a short health and safety briefing, before handing us some goggles and ear-defenders. Eye and ear protection are key in clay pigeon shooting to avoid any clay shards getting into your eyes or any loud bangs damaging your ears (better to be safe than sorry!!). Into the Gun Shop located next to the clubhouse, we were introduced to a range of shot guns. Everyone is different so work with what feels most comfortable for you. Once Gemma and I had chosen our gun, we were set! There are plenty of clay grounds in the complex, depending on your group size and ability will depend on which ground you shoot on. As beginners, we started off at a suitable open ground with full visibility.

John then gave a quick overview to how clay shooting works, including tips on how to hold, load and aim the gun. Once we were confident, John explained that professionals would normally say 'PULL' to release the clay which we decided we would also go ahead and say. Gemma up first took her stance, aimed, and BANG, she shot her first clay!! After a few more 'PULL's, the second positioned clays were released, a little trickier but again she got the hang of it. I was up next, if you know me, you’ll be as surprised as I was… I did hit the clays, not one, not two, but three in a row! Even John was impressed and said at this stage we would be upgraded to the advanced grounds where we could really test our ability! Sporting Targets are great at applying your ability to the correct grounds so you can get the full experience out of your session.

Once we had a full session of clay shooting, John wanted to introduce us to the rest of the complex which is available to paying customers. First up was air-rifle shooting, held in a contained walled area filled with plenty of targets to hit and pellets ready to fire! Archery was next-door and had a similar setting. Both compounds had an area to stand or sit in from behind the shooting range. Quad biking is also an option for the more adventurous, ride along the rocky scenic tracks at the back of the complex for a real thrill!

As we returned our guns, we thanked John for a brilliant introduction to clay pigeon shooting. It was something we both thoroughly enjoyed and would most certainly want to try again in the future! 

Experience Days have been working with Sporting Targets for a few years now, and we decided it’s time to get to know them properly! We asked a few questions, and gathered some fascinating answers. Read on to discover why you should take up clay pigeon shooting…

1. How did Sporting Targets come about?

There was originally a small clay shoot on the farm that now surrounds Sporting Targets. A family ran the farm, and it was decided to permanently allocate the land to clay shooting. Thus, Sporting Targets was born, still owned by the same family. The business has grown to what it is now: one of the best clay shooting grounds in the UK. As time went on, the business also diversified into other activities, such as archery, crossbows, air rifles, quad biking and off-road driving. 

2. What else is offered at the Sporting Targets complex?

As well as the activities, we have a family-friendly clubhouse offering complementary tea and coffee. There is also a bar menu, offering everything from sandwiches to plated meals, as well as soft drinks. For those who have finished their activities, there is also a bottle bar. The clubhouse is heated with air conditioning, making it the perfect temperature in both summer and winter. On a warm day, we also have plenty of outside seating.

Our shop has everything from keepsakes to clothing. We sell air rifles, air pistols, shotguns, gifts and anything the clay shooter could wish for. We welcome everyone to come and have a look around. 

3. What encouraged you to take up shooting and work for Sporting Targets?

My brother originally introduced me to clay shooting many years ago, and I became hooked on the spot. It is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. I started competing, and in the early stages I was given so much advice and guidance - some good, some not so good - I decided to educate myself. I have now passed many exams, and work for the governing body, the CPSA, as well as for Sporting Targets. 

This sport can be enjoyed at so many different levels, from pleasure shooting, to taking part in shooting competitions every weekend. I spend most of my time coaching and instructing now, and there is no typical client; everyone is unique! They may be complete novices on the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, or a competition shooter wanting to conquer that nemesis target. They come in all ages from 8 to 80. No day is boring, and no day is the same. It is an amazing sport!

4. Talk us through a typical clay pigeon shooting session.

First and foremost, we must make sure the client is comfortable with the equipment, namely the shotgun itself! This means finding one that is the correct weight and size for you. The next step is finding the correct hearing and eye protection for you. Prescription glasses or sunglasses are sufficient, otherwise we will provide you with glasses to wear. You are now kitted out! Next, we will go through a safety briefing with the respective equipment, so you understand the dos and don’ts, including the correct way to hold the gun, and its operation. Typically, this all takes about 10 minutes. It’s now all about shooting. We will start off with something easy (hopefully!) to build your confidence, and acclimatise you to the environment and the gun. From here, we slowly work forward, presenting different targets, either as singles one after another, or indeed two in the air at the same time. In all situations, we work at your pace and level of ability. There are plenty of opportunities for photographs, and we encourage you to be yourself and have your fun in a safe environment. Typically, a session will last an hour, and depending on your ability you can expect to shoot up to 100 targets during that hour. 

5. What does it take to become an accurate target shooter?

Looking in from the outside, the sport can appear out of reach for some. The first point of call is a shotgun licence. This costs considerably less than your TV licence, and lasts for five years as opposed to just one. In the UK at this moment in time, you are entitled to have a shotgun licence, and thus a shotgun. Good training and understanding of what you are taking on is essential, otherwise you’ll be practicing to miss rather than hit targets. The best course of action is to get a good foundation knowledge of the sport - something like the CPSA’s accredited Shotgun Gun Skills Programme. This should then be followed by a series of lessons, separated by practice. You can expect to wait about three months for your licence to come through, and during this period you can gain some knowledge and take lessons. Good foundations and practice make a good slay shooter.

6. What are your top 3 tips for an aspiring participant? 

-Clay shooting is more akin to playing tennis or hitting a nail into a piece of wood than any other target discipline. It is a pointing - not aiming - exercise, so your focus is always on the target, never on the gun.
-The gun should be of a comfortable weight and size for you, so don’t be afraid to say it is too heavy. There should always be something lighter.
-First timers are always concerned that it may hurt them, or that they won’t hit anything. What the gun does when you pull the trigger is a lot less than what most people imagine. Hold it correctly and it will not hurt you. When you are armed with these two pieces of knowledge: 1, hold the gun correctly, and 2, keep looking and pointing at the clay, you will hit the target when you pull the trigger.

7. Do you have any upcoming events or future plans for Sporting Targets?

As mentioned earlier, we have many events coming up. We are constantly evolving the business, and looking at ways to improve the customer experience. No matter old or young, experienced or inexperienced, we want everyone to have an enjoyable and safe time here. We will never stop entertaining or re-inventing the wheel.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Sporting Targets for taking the time to answer our questions! We had a brilliant time visiting the centre, and would advise anyone to have to a go. Keep an eye out for our visit video and staff review...

Make sure you purchase your own experience today!