Partridge

Spanish Partridge Shooting

For many years Spain has been regarded as an ultimate destination for serious game shots. The sheer variety of sport on offer combined with glorious unspoilt countryside and Spanish hospitality will guarantee that you return year after year to the mountains and plains of La Mancha .
 
We started letting partridge shooting in Spain in 1989 on the Las Beatas Estate in La Mancha . This area of Spain is regarded as the Mecca for partridge shooting where the sport has been enjoyed for many decades by a small fraternity of international guns who return to the Villanueva de los Infantes area year after year to enjoy truly wild sport in glorious countryside. The majority of days which we organise are still in this area on the Las Beatas Estate where the shooting season runs from the 8th October until the 8th February. Outside this season we can also arrange days on estates in different parts of Spain which have a longer season. In our opinion Las Beatas sets the gold standard by which other shoots are judged and we are proud to be UK agents for this fantastic shoot.

LAS BEATAS , LA MANCHA

The shooting organisation, Las Beatas SA, is owned and managed by Jesus Muela and his son, Jesus Alberto. The family own the shooting lodge (Finca), and in October 1999 completed the construction of a new 14 bedroom Finca at Cuesta de la Borracha to satisfy the increasing worldwide demand for what is possibly the very best partridge shooting in Spain.

The shooting days take place over a massive area of La Mancha, from the ravines of Casas Blancas in the north to the open plains and rocky outcrops of Torre de Juan Abad, Villamanrique and Montizon in the west. Contrasting with the wild country of Montiel in the east are the steep side gulleys of La Cuesta and Terrinches to the south of Puebla del Principe. In October 2003, additional land at Albaladejo was included in the mountain country at La Cuesta to give even more variety of drives on this estate. The organisation currently employs 18 full time keepers and on shoot days, a further 50 staff for beating, flanking, loading and picking up. Each secretario has a dog and picking-up is carried out thoroughly at the end (mostly!) of the drives. In an average year Jesus Alberto will organise in excess of 100 days shooting at Las Beatas with daily bags ranging from 400-700 birds and he and his efficient staff will entertain guests at the Fincas throughout the season.

The literal translation of Las Beatas is ‘the beatified', the old women who habitually dress in black from head to foot are also called Las Beatas. The finca is situated 9km to the east of Villahermosa , has 24 en-suite bedrooms, and is the ideal venue for a shooting party!

The finca has a large dining room which can accommodate 30 guests at the same table and a comfortable spacious bar area. In addition to this there is a games room with pool table, card tables and satellite TV and video. Outside there is an open air pool, although this is unheated and the temperature in December can best be described as ‘refreshing'! A tennis court has also recently been built for shooting guests who feel particularly energetic after a day in the field.

Cuesta de la Borracha, as the name suggests has been built on a hill and the finca has outstanding views to the south to the Sierra de Alcaraz.

The house itself is slightly smaller than Las Beatas having 14 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Known locally as La Cuesta, the property overlooks the shooting country and guests are only a short drive from some of the most challenging partridges they will ever attempt to shoot! Both fincas are fully staffed and if non shooters prefer to stay behind and join the party at lunch time, this can easily be arranged.

After shooting, guns and boots are cleaned for you and there is also a laundry service. Each room has a telephone, with a fax machine and internet connection available in the office for guests to use if necessary. Telephone accounts are individually metered and billed at the end of your stay. Tips to house staff are at guests discretion on which we can give guidance if asked.