As the popularity of clay shooting grows, how do simulated game days compare with the real thing?
Why simulated game days are growing
Over the past few decades, simulated game days have grown in popularity, something that was far less common not so long ago. They can now be enjoyed across the country, and for many shooters they help fill the gaps when there are fewer live days in the diary. With pressure on bird numbers in some seasons and the wider costs of running shoots rising, a day under the clays is looking increasingly appealing.
Companies supplying traps and flush trailers have seen strong demand, often stretching well beyond the traditional mid-March to September period. Simulated days have also helped soften the financial blow of rising feed, fertiliser and fuel costs, while giving shoots another way to use their ground and facilities outside the main season.
“I’ve always seen them as a way to make use of the shoot room and other facilities that otherwise sit empty. It’s another string to our bow and a good way to advertise the pheasant shoot.”
— David Dale, Bagots Park, Staffordshire
How a clay day is run
Simulation days are set up to echo the rhythm of a live day, with guests pairing up and taking turns to shoot anywhere between 3,000 and over 5,000 clays across several drives. Each drive is designed to recreate a familiar presentation, with targets coming from cover, over a bank, across a ride, or pushed on the wind to test timing and judgement. A good host will keep the day moving, explain the order clearly, and make sure safe gun handling stays front and centre.
The dress code is usually more relaxed than on a formal driven day, though some still favour tweed and breeks. In practical terms, it makes sense to dress for standing outdoors, allow for wet ground, and bring a warm layer even when the forecast looks kind. The men’s shooting clothing collection and men’s shooting jackets collection cover the sort of kit that suits this kind of day well.
What clays can and cannot teach
Simulated days can be a strong stepping stone for shooters with limited live quarry experience, helping build confidence with a gun under closer supervision. They are also a good way for more experienced shots to blow away the cobwebs between January and September, sharpen pick-up points, and get an eye in again before the season returns.
That said, clays cannot teach respect for quarry or wider fieldcraft. There is also no end product. Some of the best free-range meat comes from live-shoot days, which cannot be replicated by a day of clays. The two activities overlap in some skills, but they are not the same thing.
What to bring on the day
A few sensible items make the day safer and smoother: reliable ear protection, clear or tinted shooting glasses, a cap to cut glare, and something practical for carrying cartridges and empties. If you are topping up your kit, our range of shooting accessories and equipment covers the essentials that are often forgotten until you are on the peg.
Cost and practicalities
One of the main advantages of simulated game shooting is its relative affordability, often at around ÂŁ300 a day. Unlike the real thing, there are no worries over foxes raiding release pens or disease affecting birds. Days can also be easier to arrange at short notice, which helps when the calendar refuses to play ball.
The verdict
There are still boxes that simulated days leave unticked. They do not provide the same incentive for landowners to manage habitats that benefit wildlife, nor do they bring together as many people as a full live day: beaters, loaders, cart drivers and the rest of the wider shoot team. Even so, they are worth recognising not only as a practice medium but also as a way to keep your shooting interest alive during the off months.
