Of Birds & Bulls

If someone were to poll shooters regarding the most challenging driven birds and enjoyable venues in the world, several locations and species undoubtedly would rise to the top. The legendary red grouse of Scotland certainly would make the grade, as would pheasants in the UK and Eastern Europe. However, for many the red-legged partridge of Spain are considered the zenith of driven shooting. Redlegs are held in high esteem because of the pageantry of Spain’s shoots, the abundance and presentation of the birds, the favorable weather, the beautiful landscape and the availability of other attractions such as sightseeing, bullfights and flamenco shows.
    In October 2007 I joined a group of American shooters that included Larry and Judy Bauman, Marc and Jeff Bauman, Gary and Karen Kelly, and Leigh Bailey on a Spanish partridge shoot. The first day of the trip was spent in Madrid, where we enjoyed the city like most tourists, with a tour, a bullfight, lunch in an open-air cafe on the Plaza Mayor, and dinner in a nice restaurant.
    The shooting took place near Salamanca, a historic town 2-1/2 hours from Madrid. Our base of operations was Las Ahijaderas, a country estate on a 4,000-acre ranch with a long history of breeding and raising fighting bulls. The complex has two lodges with a total of 22 rooms, expansive grounds and gardens, a swimming pool and tennis courts. (Our group had exclusive use of the smallest lodge, with eight rooms.) Activities offered include horseback riding, private bullfights, hiking, bird watching and cultural tours.
    The shooting took place about 20 minutes from Las Ahijaderas in a region of picturesque hills and valleys with meandering streams. The first morning dawned bright and clear, and after breakfast we loaded into the vehicles for the short ride to the shooting venue. Our outfitter, Alfonso Fabres Jr. of Huntinspain, gave a short safety talk before introducing us to our cargadors, or loaders, and secretarios, or spotters. Most shooters bring or rent two shotguns, and the loader’s job is to make sure the guns are loaded and passed to the shooter at the appropriate time. Of course, as with most European driven shooting, double guns—either over/unders or side-by-sides—are preferred.
    The spotter’s task is to keep track of the birds shot. In addition, he helps point out incoming birds. In the UK, when a line of Guns contracts for 600 birds in a day, the number of birds taken by each shooter depends on the shooter’s location in the line, his shooting ability and the availability of birds. Therefore, one shooter in a line of six Guns might shoot 150 birds, another 100, and another 50. In Spain each shooter is allotted a certain number of birds for the day and can shoot up to that many before he must stop (unless he wants to pay for additional birds). If he shoots less than his allotment, he can “roll over” the balance to the next day.
    Each day started with the tomelot: the drawing for blind or butt positions. The results established the shooters’ locations in the line, and after each drive there was a rotation. Center positions are coveted, and theoretically a full rotation through the line equalizes the shooting opportunities among the Guns. Of course each drive is different, and end positions sometimes afford more shooting than center positions. In a typical day we enjoyed threedrives before lunch and two after.
    The type of habitat where the drives take place has everything to do with the quality of the shoot. For the first drive, the line of Guns was placed in the bottom of a draw where the butts were spaced 60 to 70 yards apart. Much of the terrain was steep and heavily vegetated, and the birds came extremely high and fast.
    I had drawn position four, and once we were in place all was quiet except for the occasional sounds of distant beaters. After what seemed like an eternity, a shot was fired down the line. Then within seconds more shots rang out, followed by a burst of gunfire. I glanced at my loader, who smiled knowingly; the show was about to begin. I turned back to see a bird approaching high and in front. I instinctively crouched behind the butt, and when I stood to fire, I could see at least a dozen partridge heading my way.
    By now the first partridge was almost overhead, and I found the gray blur, swung past it and fired. My spotter yelled, “Buen tiro,” as the bird plummeted to the ground a few yards behind me. More birds were approaching fast, and I fired my second round at a bird to the right. Almost in a trance, I passed off the empty shotgun and grabbed a loaded one, shouldered it as I picked a target, and then fired twice more. Another bird fell. The birds were still coming fast, and I knew that if I hurried, I might have another chance. Ipassed the gun, grabbed the other, founda target and fired. Miss! I increased my lead and fired again, and another bird hit the ground. Soon the drive was over, and all that remained of the frenzied action was the commotion of the beaters closingon the line and a few feathers floating to earth. I had fired 45 shells and taken 19 partridge, and I later learned that the line had accounted for 108 birds total.
    A whistle signaled the end of the first drive, and immediately the pickers-up appeared with an army of Labradors to find the fallen birds. In short order the partridge were gathered and taken to a staging area, where they were dressed and packed in boxes. With the daily bag typically numbering in the hundreds, this is no small task.From the field the birds go to a cooler, and within 24 hours they are on the tables of the finest restaurants in Madrid. Perdiz roja is considered a delicacy and is a popular main course.
    The number of beaters typically ranges from a dozen to more than 20, depending on the terrain, the number of Guns and the density of birds in the area. It falls to the beaters to move the birds toward and over the line—not all at once ideally, but in small groups. Although many drives start less than a mile from the Guns, others are longer, and a seasoned group of beaters is invaluable in delivering a quality shoot.
    Partridge would rather run than fly, and when they do flush, sometimes it’s all at once. Often at the beginning of a drive only a few birds will appear over the line. Soon more will appear, and then dozens, and sometimes hundreds will cross the line at once. When the birds come in large groups, a good loader earns his keep and helps the shooter seize the moment.
     Historically, driven redleg shooting in Spain was for wild birds. However, in the past two decades the desire to shoot driven partridge has outpaced the sustainable supply of wild birds, and today’s driven shoots typically offer a mixture of wild birds and early release pen-reared birds. In most areas in Spain, partridge shoots are available from September to March.
    Our second drive was about a half-mile from the first, and the Guns were positioned along a stream at the bottom of a steep draw. The birds were presented perfectly and passed over at 35 to 65 yards. In driven shooting the most-sought-after birds are “tall” birds, and shoot organizers do their best to present high-flying partridge. Valleys and hills often are used to “persuade” birds to pass over at acceptable altitudes, and in some locations trees and other terrain features serve to boost the birds just before they reach the Guns.
    On the second drive the redlegs came hard and fast and were not visible until they’d reached the line. Flushing from a steep brush-covered slope, they were over the shooters for only seconds. It doesn’t take a partridge long to cover 50 yards at full speed, and the birds were gone almost before we could react.
    The third drive was the most productive and brought the day’s count to 350 partridge. Our group had contracted for 500 birds per day, and it was hard to believe that we already had shot more than half of the planned bag. (The daily bag for six to 12 Guns can range from 400 to more than 800 birds, with extra birds on our shoot costing $32 each.)
    After an exquisite lunch including paella, roast pork, fresh-baked breads and fine red wine served beneath a canopy overlooking the countryside, we moved to the next drive of the day. It was in a narrow valley with a meandering stream and rock outcroppings. At first the birds did not cooperate and a large flock slipped out the side, passing over only the end positions. But then things returned to normal, and when the drive was over the count for the line was just over 500 birds. At that point we decided not to shoot the final drive.
    At the end of each day the partridge are laid out for the “tableau,” or game parade, to show respect for the birds. In Spain this layout often is in a circular pattern, and the entire shoot staff and Guns assemble for a group photo.
    That afternoon we returned to Las Ahijaderas in time for a tour of the ranch and the fighting-bull operation. The tour included a drive through the paddocks, with the bulls grazing only yards away, and a visit to the original ranch house and private bullfighting arena, built in the 1800s. Then there was time for a shower and changing into our evening attire—dresses for the ladies and sport coats and ties for the men—before cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an exquisite meal. The cuisine at Las Ahijaderas is classic Catalan, with suckling pig, roast lamb and beef among the typical dishes served.
    The second and fourth days at Las Ahijaderas were shooting days, with the third day set aside for touring Salamanca. As they had been the first day, the partridge were presented high and fast, and subsequent daily bags were 540 and 560 birds. Most of the shooters bagged more than their contracted “allotment” and settled up with the outfitter at the end of the trip.
    On our final trip back to the lodge, the group commented on the first-class accommodations, food and hospitality, as well as our good fortune at having shared a wonderful shooting holiday in Spain. We also agreed wholeheartedly that we had just experienced some of the best driven shooting in the world.

Author’s Note: For more information on driven partridge shooting in Spain, contact Alfonso Fabres at Huntinspain, 011-34-923-380001, www.huntinspain.com.

Gary Kramer is the author of Flyways, A Celebration of Waterfowl and Wetlands, a 135-page coffee-table book published by Ducks Unlimited that includes 195 photos. Autographed copies are available for $26.90 from Gary Kramer, PO Box 903, Willows, CA 95988; 530-934-3873; www.GaryKramer.net.