Clay Pigeon Shooting Hertfordshire 9 prices and offers 2025

Hertfordshire takes its name from hart, an old English word for a male deer, or stag. In times gone by, a hart was seen as a prestigious prize for a hunter, and indeed, Hatfield House in Hertfordshire was a favourite hunting retreat for King James I. Other animals that were targets in historical hunts included pigeons, and these were so popular that the practice has remained popular despite the demise of hunting as a recreational pursuit. The modern sport is clay pigeon shooting, in which clay targets shaped like dinner plates have replaced real pigeons. These are launched into the air by a machine called a trap and brought back down to Earth, hopefully, with the help of a shotgun.

If you think clay pigeon shooting is an out-of-date, unfashionable and uninteresting pastime, think again! It may have ancient roots, but this sport is a fantastic way to relax, socialise and enjoy some time in the great outdoors, far from the stresses and worries of modern life. In fact, it’s becoming more and more popular around the country, including here where you’ll find numerous shooting ranges that are run by friendly enthusiasts who are always looking to welcome more people to the sport. What’s more, at just a short drive from London and with transport links to other parts of the country, it’s a well connected area to experience a fantastic shoot.

Where are the best places to go clay pigeon shooting in Hertfordshire?

• Hertford: The historic county town lost its influence over the centuries to towns like Watford and St Albans which are much larger, but it still boasts the best shooting ground. You’ll find beautiful surroundings, top quality equipment and warm, professional welcome here, which is enough to get you in the right mood to train your aim and smash some clays to pieces. At just 25 minutes’ drive from North London and a stone’s throw from nearby Ware, there’s no excuse to pass up the opportunity to try shooting here, whether it’s your first time holding a gun, or you're a seasoned shooter looking for a new challenge.

• Codicote: You might say that this village is out in the sticks, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth visiting. As well as some fantastically preserved Tudor buildings in the centre, it also has a fantastic range in the green and pleasant surroundings with a lot of space for innovative shooting layouts, and more than enough room to breathe. The ground is run by a tight knit group of members who put on competition shoots and invite corporate groups to come along for a session in their beautiful grounds.

What are the options for this experience?

- Most of the clay pigeon shooting in Hertfordshire is of the sporting variety. This is a discipline which involves shooting at different stations around the grounds and has earned it the nickname of “Golf with a Shotgun.” It also involves clays being fired from the trapped with different trajectories, to imitate the flights of birds. If it’s your first time, you can expect fairly predictable flight pathways, as well as manageable speeds and distances, and all of these - combined with the tips of an expert instructor - combine to ensure that you’ll hit at least a couple of clays during the session. Other disciplines include trap shooting and skeet shooting, in which two clays are launched simultaneously across the range, which gives the shooter the chance to almost literally kill two birds with one stone.

- If all of that sounds confusing, you should sign up for a have-a-go session. You’ll be taken step by step through the equipment, the safety procedures and the shooting technique by an instructor and then get a chance to blast the targets out of the air. These are usually arranged by time, commonly around 1 hour, or simply by the number of targets that are loaded into the trap. For a quick taste of the sport, a round of 10 clays is available, but you can always extend your experience by buying more clays if you start to get hooked.

- And you’ll want to work on your technique once you’re hooked, so you should sign up for some tuition. Again, lessons might last an hour each or 2 hours, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can improve under the guidance of your instructor. This is a great place to learn, with satisfied customers praising the quality of the equipment, the grounds, and, of course, the tuition.

Requirements to do this activity

Bring the harts to Hertfordshire - or should that be the stags? If your best friend's about to tie the knot, a have-a-go clay pigeon shooting experience is a great way to send him off. Of course, hen parties are also welcome, as are corporate groups. Of all the target sports, this can be the best one to enjoy as a group because the flight of the target across the range means several people, each at their own stand along the flightpath of the clay, can shoot at the same one. The resulting friendly competition is sure to liven up the event, and make sure that everyone goes home with a smile on their face.

Despite the fact that it involves guns, there are no legal age limits on taking part in this sport. The only thing that can stop the youngest members of the group from getting involved is the size of the shotguns on offer in each range. A full size shotgun is too big for a child or smaller teenager to hold properly, and they won’t have much success when try to aim it and hit the targets.

What should you wear to a range?

You don’t need any special equipment to enjoy this sport. One thing that’s important is ear protection, because shotguns are pretty loud when they go off right next to your ear. Protective equipment is available at ranges, but you can bring your own if you prefer. When it comes to clothing, the most important thing to do is check the weather forecast and prepare for the conditions that await you here. One expert tip - something like a gilet or padded jacket is a good choice for the range, because it can cushion the impact of the gun when it recoils. And one more thing - we advise against high heeled shoes!

Having read this guide, you’ll be right at home on the range, are you ready to get there?