The “Abbey Shoot” is a traditional driven partridge and pheasant
shoot with probably some of the widest variety of terrain to be found within one
shoot. Many of the drives are memorable to include the curving high partridge and
pheasant on the Spinney drive, and the wide open challenging high pheasants on Clear
Fell drive. Jenny Spring drive in Yedmandale offers a surprise with partridge and
pheasant flushed over the tops of majestic Douglas Fir – not much time to think!
The Bedale, Yedmandale and Sawdon dale beats comprise several wooded steep dales over which Pheasant
and Partridge are flushed to produce some spectacular and challenging high bird
shooting. The undulating topography surrounding Bedale and Yedmandale is ideal for
both partridge and pheasant shooting (or a mixture of the two) over an area of approximately
4000 acres.
For those wh enjoy less challenging birds but still in an attractive environment,
there is the more traditional shooting around Wykeham Abbey, the park and the surrounding
woodland and spinneys.
The process of letting days on the Abbey Shoot continues with the object of avoiding
the more commercial aspects of many shoots; in other words it is challenging shooting
with a friendly atmosphere. Days are let on a fixed price (based on an agreed bag)
therefore avoiding any dispute about overage.
Morning coffee and lunch can be taken in the “Old Kitchen” at Wykeham Abbey, the
Dawnay family’s private home.
Matthew Steadman, head-keeper, has been joined by Ian Blacker, under-keeper, and
together they continue to develop the full potential of the shooting. Matthew was
previously the beat keeper at the Deer Park on the Helmsley Shoot (Duncombe Park).