Clay Pigeon Shooting Stag Do

A clay pigeon shooting stag do is my pick for a mixed group. It’s easy to learn, properly competitive, and it usually ends near a country pub, which is the best kind of finish line. You don’t need to be a country type or own a single item of tweed, though it does help the photos.

An instructor shows you how to stand, hold and swing the shotgun, then the clays fly and you try to hit them. A shotgun cartridge fires a spread of small pellets rather than a single bullet, so you’ve got more margin than you’d think. That makes it all the funnier when the lad who’s been bragging about his aim all week misses ten in a row.

Pretty much everyone. Dads, uncles, the future father-in-law and the mate who hates sport can all have a go, and there’s no running about. Scores are easy to keep, so the competitive ones get a leaderboard and the rest get to heckle.

It’s also one of the more grown-up options on the list, if the stag wants a day that won’t end up on anyone’s phone for the wrong reasons. And I’d put money on the winner not being the lad who talked the biggest game on the drive there.

Want to give the stag a bit of extra attention? Put him in a flat cap and a borrowed tweed jacket and make him shoot last in every round, with the whole group watching.

• The booze rule. No drinking before or during. Shooting grounds are strict about this, and I’d want them to be. The pub comes after.
• Travel. Shooting grounds are out in the countryside, so allow for travel time and sort transport. A minibus means nobody has to drive back after the pub.
• What to wear. Outdoor layers, a waterproof and sturdy shoes. Grounds are open and exposed, and British weather does what it likes. Ear and eye protection are usually provided, but ask.
• ID and age rules. Some grounds ask for photo ID or have their own rules for younger shooters, so check with the provider if anyone’s unsure.
• The format. Ask how many clays each person gets and whether there’s a competition at the end. More clays means more chances for the stag to embarrass himself.

Clays suit a weekend with a bit of countryside in it. York, Bath and Chester all make good bases, with old pubs, a decent night out and open country not far away. Shoot in the morning, eat a proper lunch, then hit the town.

If the lads catch the bug, archery and shooting scratch the same itch, and paintballing lets them shoot each other instead of the clays. The packages below include clay shooting on its own and bundled with accommodation and nights out.