Going shooting by helicopter

Why fly to a shoot?

Shoot days start early, often with a 09:00 meet, and many of the best estates are an awkward two to five hours from a city by road. A helicopter turns the journey into a short flight, so the party arrives together, fresh, with its kit and time for coffee before the first drive. It also helps on the way home, when nobody wants a long drive after a day in the field.

As an illustration of the time saved, Redhill to Birmingham typically takes about 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter against around 2 hours 40 by road, and Manchester to London about 60 to 75 minutes against around 4 hours 10. Estates are rarely at an airport, so the real saving depends on where the helicopter can land, which is the next question.

Where does the helicopter land?

Usually on the estate itself, on a field, lawn or paddock agreed with the landowner, or at a nearby airfield with a short drive. Landing away from an airfield needs the landowner's permission and a suitable site, and we never promise permission; we ask the estate, check the site with the crew, and tell you the outcome before you commit. Helicopters may land and take off outside the 500 feet rule that otherwise keeps aircraft away from people and structures, but they still need somewhere safe, clear and permitted to come down. Our guide to UK helicopter landing sites explains the basics.

The estate will usually have a view on where the helicopter goes, away from the drives, the birds and the beaters, and from livestock and horses. Ask them early, and tell us.

Guns and cartridges: the rules

Carrying firearms is regulated and we do not give legal advice. What we can say is how we plan flights. Guns and cartridges must be carried and stored lawfully. The guns' owners hold the certificates and are responsible for them. Guns travel unloaded and in cases or slips, and we do not carry loaded weapons. The AOC holder that flies your helicopter has its own rules on carrying guns and ammunition, and we confirm those with them before we book, including how many cartridges can be carried and how they must be packed.

For the law in the UK, the Home Office guidance, Firearms licensing law on GOV.UK, is the place to start, and your local police firearms licensing team can answer questions about your certificates. If you have questions about the carriage of ammunition by air, ask us early so that we can ask the AOC holder.

Group sizes, weights and bags

The number of guns we can carry depends on the aircraft and the weight of everything in it. An AW139 or H145 D3 seats up to 8 passengers, an Agusta 109 Grand up to 6 and an AS355 Twin Squirrel up to 5. Guns, cartridge cases, wellingtons and coats are heavy and bulky, and holds are small, so a full cabin of people usually cannot also carry a full cabin of kit. Tell us how many guns, how many loaders or dog handlers if any, and approximate weights for each person and bag. We will say whether it works in one helicopter, or whether two are needed.

• Soft bags for clothing and boots; no hard cases beyond the gun cases.
• Dogs are a separate conversation: tell us at the start, and for travel with pets see Pet Friendly Flights.
• Cartridge bags are weighed with everything else.

The day, hour by hour

1. Evening before. We confirm the landing site, the time and the weather outlook. Guns are cased and cartridges packed as agreed.
2. Morning. Arrive 10 minutes before departure with photo ID. Guns are checked as unloaded and cased, and loaded into the helicopter as the crew directs.
3. Flight. Typically 30 minutes to just over an hour for most UK journeys. Brief the party on the helicopter rules: seat belts, no walking around the rotors, wait for the crew.
4. Landing. The estate meets you with vehicles for the short run to the meet. Guns come out cased.
5. Shoot day. The helicopter returns to base or waits, depending on the plan.
6. Home. Same process in reverse, subject to daylight and landing site hours.

Dress, kit and what to ask the estate

Dress for the field and for the cabin: layers, soft boots or shoes to change into, and everything in soft bags. Questions to put to the estate: where may the helicopter land and who has agreed it; who meets the party; whether livestock, game or neighbours are affected; what the ground conditions are; the shoot day timings; and whether there is a safe place for the crew to wait. Share the answers with us and we check them against the aircraft and the daylight.

Seasons and timing

Shooting seasons for each species are set in law and differ by species and nation, so confirm them with the estate or a recognised shooting organisation rather than relying on this page. Autumn and winter shoot days finish earlier because of daylight, which makes the return flight the tight one: tell us the latest you expect to leave the field.

Getting there from where you are

Many parties start at or near a city or airfield. See regional options for the Midlands, Scotland and Yorkshire, and our UK heliports and airfields directory. Arrange the car at either end with exec-chauffeur.com if you wish. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For a quote, use the contact page.