The Shooting Academy
Back in 2004 Jono Garton was introduced to shotgun shooting. A passion was born, and the rest was a life dedicated to what can be only described as a degree 5 times over. His mentor (in shooting only) was a legend, a one off, a man that dedicated his life to his shooting ground, to research shooting and pass on his knowledge to others.
Jono Garton travels the world shooting everything from Grouse in Yorkshire to Doves in Argentina, to Partridge in Spain and Big Game in Africa. Like his mentor, he is a fan of the 28 gauge for game. Jono’s experience in game rearing, shoot management and game shooting is in depth and a question is rarely left unanswered. Jono Garton is an APSI Member.,
In 2015 The Keepers Lodge was established as a lodge to host shooting parties.
In 2020 the natural progression was to create a small private shooting school that would cater not just for British clients that want to learn to shoot, but would specialise in guests from abroad that want to come to the UK and learn the great British tradition that is Driven Game Shooting.
We are not a shooting school that is set in 100 acre grounds similar to a manicured golf course, but we are grounds set in 4000 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside, with sea views and fresh winds.
Whether you are a novice wanting a first shot, a group of hen or stags, a corporate event or an established shot, contact us to discuss your exact requirements.
Tariff on application. We operate an appointment only system.
Have a Go at Shooting
If you have never shot before, then this is for you. Your instructor provides everything you need – a shotgun, cartridges, clays, all safety equipment – and lots of fun! If you feel in need of moral support, then spectators are very welcome too. The Instructor will equip you with an appropriate gun. You will shoot a variety of different clay pigeon targets under the guidance of your instructor, who will soon have you hitting many clays.
Novice Shooting Lessons Tariff
Individual Novice Lesson: £100 including gun hire and 25 clays and cartridges
Group (3+) Novice Lesson: £50 each including gun hire and 25 clays and cartridges
Improvers and Regular Shots Tariff
One to One Shooting Lesson: £100 per lesson excluding cartridges
Couples Shooting Lesson: £150 per lesson excluding cartridges
Simulated Game: £250 per person for 2 drives, minimum 2 people
Fibre Wad Cartridges: £15 per box of 25
All prices include VAT
– By appointment only – jono@thekeeperslodge.net
Stag & Hen
Clay Shooting is a great Stag or Hen Party activity – the friendly competition is perfect for bringing together groups where not everyone knows each other that well. And if your group isn’t exactly the Expendables that’s fine too, because clay shooting doesn’t require you all to be fighting fit.
All our Stag Party Packages include everything you need: professional tuition from our friendly and experienced instructors (expect some banter!); gun hire, cartridges, clays and all safety equipment. There’s no need to worry if some of your group have shot before, or if you’re all complete novices – our instructors can set targets to suit all abilities.
You’ll be using real 12 or 20 gauge shotguns on the day and if you want to hit a clay or two you’ll need steady hands, so we suggest heading off to the local pub afterwards to discuss your sharp-eyed skills or lack thereof. Why not make a Stag Weekend out of it and take a boat trip also?
Corporate Reward
A company or business is only as good as their people. Clay Pigeon Shooting a great way to bring your team together as well as bringing out the best in each other. Through shooting, you’ll develop numerous skills such as leadership, planning, communication, teamwork and a drive to win.
Clay pigeon shooting is a great way to reward staff for all their hard work! Not only that it allows the employees to blow off some steam.
Whether you are looking for team building activities with your employees, a fun day for customers or perhaps just a family fun day out, we can arrange an event to suit your needs.
If you’re planning on a day of clay pigeon shooting for your employees, here are a few ways it will benefit them and your company –
Smash Creative Blocks – Taking on a fresh challenge like clay shooting could smash any creative barriers you’ve had and improve productivity on your return to work.
Improve Organisational Skills – Giving one of your team the task of organising your away day, this gives one of your team the perfect opportunity to hone their organising skills.
Create New Friendships – If you work in a big team and don’t get too much chance to mingle with other departments, taking everyone out for the day could be the perfect remedy. People who don’t spend too much time together have the opportunity to strike up bonds and create new friendships that will only improve the camaraderie of your workforce.
Unleash Competitive Streaks – Clay pigeon shooting is a great way to discover who has a competitive streak amongst your colleagues. For the winners of the day, it will also give them the bragging rights and if it proves popular you can always book another trip soon!
Valued Employees Work Harder – We all want to work for a company that recognises the hard work of its staff plus they know how to enjoy themselves. Studies have revealed that companies with engaged employees earn two and a half times more than their low engagement counterparts. Engagement activities such as clay pigeon shooting also keep staff around with the same research showing that they are 87% less likely to leave.
Gun fitting
Gun fit can only be successfully achieved using a Try-Gun, taking it out on the range and testing it on the pattern plate and on targets. A Try-Gun can be fully adjusted to look at stock dimensions, comb height, rib height, trigger pull distance, cast of the stock and the various lengths – from butt to trigger and palm swell to trigger.
Once the try gun has been adjusted, the individual can try the gun for its initial fit. The gun is mounted into the shoulder, so any ill-fitting components can be noted, and the gun fitter looks directly down the barrels to check the cast. Once the adjustments appear to suit the individual, the gun can then be tried out on the pattern plate. Subject to those findings, you can then move to a stand. Adjustments are gradually made depending on the results shown on the pattern plate.
These adjustments are recorded as measurements, which are then given to the gunsmith to create a new made-to-measure gun or, if you are buying a second hand or off the shelf gun, to alter the cast, stock length, trigger, comb or rib to suit. Once a new or adjusted gun is returned from the gunsmith it is important to try it out again – on the pattern plate and also over various targets, to familiarise yourself with the fit.
The Established Shot
As the wheel dropped off or are you struggling with a particular target? A session with one of our APSI instructors will sort the issue and get you back on track. We can offer you a variety of targets and an action plan to improve the best of shots.
Rifle Shooting & Africa Preparation
Are you looking to improve your rifle shooting or planning a trip to Africa? A trip to The Keepers Lodge will see you prepare to the full. We have 4000 acres to set up and simulate every eventuality. We have a choice of estate rifles for you to try. .22, .222, .243, .270, .30-06, .375,
5 Day Driven Game Shooting Course
This course is designed to make you in to an established driven game shot in a short space of time, the course will enforce, encourage etiquette and shoot day dress code from the very beginning.
You will need to be dressed in shooting attire each day. You will have needed to have shot on clay pigeon, be fully familiar with a shotgun and a desire to shoot “British Driven Game”. There is some pre-course reading that will require your attention.
The course will be limited to 4 students to APSI 1 instructor or 6 students to 2 APSI instructors.
Itinerary
Monday Afternoon
Lunch on arrival
Safety
Appraisal
Eye Dominance
Gun Fit
Double Gunning
Monday Evening
Meal in The Keepers Lodge 8pm – Speaker on Shooting Etiquette
Tuesday Morning
Breakfast 8.45am
Missing with style
– Perfecting Gun Mount
– Back Handing
– Stance
– Footwork
Lunch
Tuesday Afternoon
Practice on Simulated Game
-Partridge Drives
-Pheasant Drives
Tuesday Evening
Meal in The Keepers Lodge 8pm – Speaker on Cartridges, Shot Size & Range
Wednesday Morning
Breakfast 8.45am
Crossing Birds
-Starting in front of the bird
-Starting with the bird
-Starting behind the bird
Lunch
Wednesday Afternoon
Practice on Simulated Game
-Partridge Drives
-Pheasant Drives
Meal in The Keepers Lodge
Wednesday Evening
Meal in The Keepers Lodge 8pm – Speaker on UK Gun Law
Thursday Morning
Breakfast 8.45am
High Bird Shooting
Looking through the Barrel
-Starting in front of the bird
-Starting with the bird
-Starting behind the bird
Lunch
Thursday Afternoon
Practice on Simulated Drives
-High Pheasant Drives
Meal in The Local Restaurant 7.30pm
Friday Morning
Driven Grouse Shooting & Practice.
Lunch & Depart 13.00pm
Thanks to Mary-Jo for some of the pictures featured here.