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Outside Days at CLA Game Fair in Countryside Alliance Shooting Lodge

Howard — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:31:43 +0000

We are delighted to officially announce that Outside Days will be hosting the Countryside Alliance‘s Shooting Lodge at the 2011 CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace Friday July 22nd to Sunday July 24th. Howard, No.2, Tony and the team will be around all weekend to share their latest tales of daring do and big fish. Please drop by for a chat, to catch up and enter our prize draw for the chance to win a great sporting prize.

Stay In The Know AND Get To Go

Howard — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:29:42 +0000

All clients are created equal, but the ones on the Outside Days Mailing List get offered sport first.

In our 24-7 365 day world of blogging, tweeting and emailing, the List is the best way of reaching most of you without joining the spamming hordes. It gives us the opportunity to offer you deals from single guns in a line to last minute sport to cancellations that would otherwise pass you by. Most special offers never make it past the mailing list: last year 5 days of walked up or mini-driven grouse were snapped up in hours; numerous cancellations at half price; scratch days were filled before ever seeing the publicity of the blog.

For some of you, this will be like sucking eggs, for others I fear it comes as a complete revelation. Either way, the List works on the simple premise that if you are interested you’ll come back with a reply, if not you’ll just ignore me. It’s a hassle-free way of ensuring you’re in the know. Put your name on the List now.

Our latest mailing:

I’m predicting a BBQ summer (Morgy will certainly be having one). Optimist? Me? Well if not a July and August scorcher, I’ll settle for a sim game spring.

If you haven’t discovered the beauty of potting the featherless bird, Game Clay Days work on the same principle as a driven day’s sport, but with no beaters or sausage rolls and better weather. Instead of flushing birds over you, we fling clays from cover and woodland.

Whether a novice shot or old hand clay days offer a chance to dust off your sporting etiquette, brush up on your shooting and make plenty of noise. For the novices (to clay or game) we can provide loaders cum coaches to explain the intricacies of a driven day in a safe and unpresurised environment. And fire around 500 cartridges in a day.

The scratch days are back by popular demand, so if fielding a team of 10-16 guns proves impossible, why not join a made up team on:

Friday 6th of May or Friday 10th of June 2011

Scratch days are £175 per gun to include refreshments on arrival, lunch, and of course enough clays to satisfy anyone (in excess of 3,500 clays over the line in the course of a day). Call or email to reserve your place…as always it is first come first served on scratch days.

Alternatively if you can field a whole team of bangers, please contact me to discuss dates and requirements (yours and mine).

The shoot is located just north of the M27 at Romsey.

Introducing: Nick Morgan

Howard — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:47:38 +0000

One of the things we pride ourselves on here at Outside Days is customer service. Okay, I hear you chortle, it often comes with a measured dose of my humour, soup and a sausage roll. But as we’ve grown, wherever possible, its come with me. In 2010 that became impossible. Because the cloning industry seems to be intransigent in its focus on farm animals, the technology just isn’t there to enable me to replicate myself Michael Keaton-style. So I’ve had to outsource and add a new member to the team.

Please join me in giving a warm field sports welcome to Nick ‘Morgy’ Morgan. For some of you, this introduction comes a tad late, but No. 2 insists you should be flattered: like my kids, I wouldn’t introduce my clients to that special someone until I was certain that they had staying power. Morgy and his canine sidekick Jenson will be holding down the fort when other engagements preclude my joining you, as well as by special request. Into his second score in the shooting field, his experience runs from rats and pigeons to lions, tigers and bears. And he makes a mean soup.

In my defense, when not pursuing pigeons or his life’s ambition of a McNab, Morgy runs Morgan’s Fine Barbecue & Spit Roast Cuisine where expectation is only surpassed by reality. So when you meet Morgy in the field next year, the correct form of address is “Hellooooo Tiger…”. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to explain.

Thomas Cook Has Nothing On Us

Howard — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:47:04 +0000

Before you start shaking your head about the cost of foreign travel (never mind sporting holidays) and cleaning your weapons in preparation for mothballing, have a look at Outside Days out of season sporting breaks. After all, I didn’t get a can of WD40 for my birthday because I am a frivolous spendthrift.
Texas
No. 2′s nationality has nothing to do with my passion for this vast state and the varied sport it offers (her kind cling to the coasts). From quail over pointers to hogs in high seats and bass from boats, there is literally sport to be had 365 days of the year. Packages can be as simple or complex as you like: take in multiple venues or be based from one camp, devote yourself to one quarry or sample a plethora of sporting opportunities. In 2011, start from $250USD a day.

Argentina
The high volume dove shooting in Argentina needs very little introduction, nor does Tierra del Fuego and its enormous sea trout. But it wouldn’t be an Outside Days adventure if we hadn’t explored every nook and cranny to bring you sport off the beaten track. The pampas holds enormous trophy reds and antelope that will have the stalkers dreaming, and Patagonia’s stunning trout rivers and freshwater lakes will take the ardent flyfisherman by surprise. Whether iconic Argentinian sport or a diversion from convention gives you the shivers, we can take you there with 2011 excursions starting at $450USD a day.

South Africa
Last year’s guinea pig trip is this year’s strong contender for the best boys trip away, offering huge value that almost matches the bag. We offer a range of South African options from the luxe and plush colonial to the no-frills lodge experience. From wildebeast to dove and all sizes of fur and feather in between, we’ve got a southern African trip to suit. And the meager hour time difference means no jet lag! With 2011 African experiences available from £1,600 for a week, you can trade the heat of the British spring and summer for the balmy African winter.

Croatia
With the amount of time I spent there last year and the fun I had, I’m considering registering as a Croatian citizen. They think nothing of waking before dawn to pursue quail over pointers, then heading to the Dalmatian coast for a bit of spearfishing and baitfishing, or to icy mountain streams for trout before returning for another bash at the birds. Add chamois, moufflon, boar and woodcock to the sporting menu and it represents pretty amazing value within a couple of hours of London. Let’s be honest, that’s closer than the big Devon high bird shoots (for most of us), and with two days of sport starting at 900euros in 2011, a LOT more affordable.

If any of these sporting destinations appeal to you, please get in touch so we can help you customise a trip to suit.

******CALLING ALL GUINEA PIGS******
If you like the unexpected, the bargain, the occasional compromise, and expressing your considered opinions in a constructive way, this is for you.

Every year, we add a few new strings to our bow. And, as you would expect from us, everything is road tested before we offer it to the wider world. The road test dummies, affectionately known as guinea pigs, get bargain trips to stunning (well, we hope) locations. In exchange, they tolerate me and the unforeseen. Risks have included dodgy transfers, mystery meat, unusual food combining (banana, ham and salad cream sandwiches), local games, and patchy sport. On the other hand, we’ve had enormous bags of a diversity of birds, real bargains, made some new friends around the globe, and no shortage of laughter.

Providing I have enough of you volunteer to be experimented on, the 2011 offerings include:
* Flyfishing for trout on the rivers in Bosnia
* A three day barbel on the dry-fly trip to Spain. Yes, you read that right, my fantasy fishing experiment has been made a reality by the Spaniards.
* Partridge, taimen and antelope, the Mongolian McGenghis, for the really adventurous.

Sign up now to join the doughty band of adventurers named after a children’s pet. You, too can be an Outside Days guinea pig.

Flats Casting for Mexican Silver

Howard — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:51:01 +0000

The ‘Grand Slam’ capital of the world, Ascension Bay in Mexico is to flyfishermen what Scotland is to McNabbers: THE place to attempt a bonefish, a tarpon and a permit in the same day. This bay is a year-round destination for keen saltwater flyfishermen eager to pit their skills against the speedy bonefish, the acrobatic tarpon and the notoriously fussy permit.

Based in the heart of the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage site) near the Mayan ruins of Tulum and just south of Cancun, you will stay with a famous local guide in a traditional Mexican lodge. Hosted trips take advantage of prime weeks in the season, and we also offer the Bonefish Academy for first time flats anglers to make sure you get the best from your Outside Days experience.

South Africa On The Wing

Howard — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:16:45 +0000

Guinea fowl, and geese, and doves! Oh, my! There is more to South Africa than plains game.

Going on safari to South Africa once meant weeks of travel just to get there, and time spent pursuing big game with even bigger rifles. Today its possible to catch a flight from London and be ensconced under canvas or in a lodge inside 18 hours. And a yearning for zebra, lion or antelope can be replaced with a passion for winged targets. Among South Africa’s numerous natural blessings is its enormous diversity of bird species, somewhere in the region of 50 of which are quarry species.

The best of South Africa’s shooting is concentrated between May 1 and August 31 – the winter months in the antipodes. And this is when you will find Outside Days setting up camp ready to welcome you to the best sport in South Africa’s agricultural breadbaskets. Whether your passion is pigeon and dove, waterfowl, or Lancaster bomber (guinea fowl) and their spur fowl cousins, we can tailor a package to suit you. Combining fluff flicking and the odd antelope with winged quarry is always a possibility: we love to turn dreams into fur, feather and fin.

Simulated Game Summer-y

Howard — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:20:12 +0000

The long dry spells this spring and summer have made for marvellous game clay days, and many of you joined us to have a go at faux pheasant, partridge and duck. In all more than 50,000 cartridges were fired at a similar number of clays. Add to that drawn out lunches on the lawns of the Cuckoo Inn (notable for Jenny’s home-made chillies, curries, cakes and other delicacies) and you were sent home satiated and spent.

With the birds well and truly on the ground, we’ve rolled up the picnic rugs on another fantastic simulated season, but if you fancy one last blast Outside Days hosts the 50 bird sporting clay shoot at the Hamptworth Country Fayre.

So come and join us for one last chance to blow the dust from the barrels before the season starts in earnest.

Cartoonist’s Pen Shoots Down Sporting Agent

Howard — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:29:37 +0000

Well, its finally happened. After years of leg-pulling, stick-giving, and micky-taking at my beloved clients’ expense, one of you has finally gotten your own back. And oh so publicly, too. Talented satirical cartoonist Andy Sipson got his revenge with an image on his Facebook page.

Andy, his father, and the coffee table with legs he swears is a springer spaniel joined me for a walked up day this past season. I can’t honestly remember being that insulting (aside from a few choice comments when hunting for his lost ‘dog’). No. 2 observes I must have made an impression as 5 months later he posted this incredibly accurate (if a bit pointed) cartoon of me on Facebook. After howling with laughter and sending the cartoon to everyone we know, No. 2′s scheming to redecorate with placemats, notecards, and wallpaper featuring what she describes as Andy’s art. My ego hasn’t recovered enough to be objective.

There’s no doubting the man’s talent. If you can think of a good use to which to put his talents, the commissioning process is a dawdle. All Andy needs is a photo of the victim and a character sketch of their personality traits and he’s away. Alternatively, he’ll join you on a shoot day and produce a series of cartoons to capture the characters and misadventures. Just beware. That quiet exterior belies a wicked sense of humour readily released on the unsuspecting sporting agent.

Lining the Ducks Up for Winter Wild Sport

Howard — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:57:52 +0000

The Outside Days Easter Egg Hunt took us a little further afield than normal this year: three intrepid guinea pigs and I spent Easter weekend in Norfolk (much to No.2′s disgust). Keeping an ear to the ground may have left me with a bad back, but it did mean I heard about some fantastic wild bird shooting available near Great Yarmouth.

The jungle drums report huge numbers of woodcock, snipe and wildfowl in abundance. Make sure you are on the mailing list and keep one eye peeled at all times for the announcement in the newsletter…this will go fast.

Fishing For Red Hot Christmas Gift?

Howard — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:31 +0000

Are you searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything? Or maybe, like me, you are trying to help loved ones to buy something you actually WANT and not another pair of socks or the ever-present scarf? Outside Days provides flyfishing lessons for every level of fisherperson, from the complete beginner to someone wishing to refine their double hauling technique.

As the old saying goes, give someone a fish, and you’ve fed them for the day. Teach them to fish, and not only do you feed them for a lifetime, but it makes it much easier to buy them gifts for birthdays and Christmases yet to come.

We offer a range of lesson plans, from all-season, lake-based courses to bespoke chalkstream masterclasses. Gift days start from £90.