Greater Manchester's capital is famous for becoming the first industrialised city in the world, its worker bee emblem symbolising the hard work and cooperation of its citizens, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out into the great outdoors in the county of Greater Manchester. Like bees, we need to spend time in nature with plants, flowers and open skies, and of all the activities to choose from in the fresh air, one of the best has to be clay pigeon shooting. We’re not talking about our feathered friends who share our city streets, in fact, no animals are harmed in the making of this sport. The targets are spinning clay discs which mimic the flight of real pigeons and other birds, providing you with a moving target to shoot at. You’ll have to channel your inner Wayne Rooney to find your aim and hit them!

In harmony with Manchester’s innovative personality, clay pigeon shooting is a technological solution to the problems of game shooting , which are that most people would prefer not to shoot real birds in the first place and besides, you can only go hunting at certain times of year. The clays are sent flying through the air by a machine called a trap. You simply load it with as many as you want to shoot, and it does the rest. As it flies through the air you need to focus your attention, slow your breath and keep your hand steady if you’re going to hit the mark, and the reward if you do is a satisfying smash! This combination of concentration and elation is what’s drawing more and more people to the sport, and the cost and ability levels to get involved are lower than ever.

Where are the best places to do clay pigeon shooting in Greater Manchester?

• Eccles: In Eccles not far from the city of Salford is a highly recommended range set in 400 acres of peaceful woodland. There’s a wide range of shooting activities on offer here, from individual lessons for all levels to corporate days out. You can even take part in a Simulated Game Shoot, which takes you off the range hunting for wild flying clays. Whatever you choose, the expert instructors are sure to have you shooting down clays in no time!

• Bolton: According to recent research, the inhabitants of Bolton are the friendliest people in the country so you can expect a warm welcome at the gun club. The members here are always keen to share their enthusiasm with first time shooters, or people with experience who are looking to experience shooting on a new range.

• Astley: Located between Manchester and Wigan, Astley is a small village on the Bridgewater Canal. You’ll find a top tier club with a team of dedicated members and opportunities for newcomers to the sport to have a go at clay shooting, or enrol in lessons. They also host corporate events, which are a great way to treat your team as a reward for good work, or shake up the office dynamics a bit.

• Oldham: On the other side of the county, passing through Oldham, you get to Saddleworth. A rural district on the edge of the Peak District, this is an outdoor paradise which is deceptively close to the city centre. It’s a great place to practise this traditional sport, especially for seasoned shooters who want to try out some innovative shooting layouts in beautiful surroundings. Beginners can also get involved, as it’s possible to organise a corporate booking with the club, but be careful - if you take your first shots here you’re likely to get hooked!

Requirements to do this activity

Clay pigeon shooting takes place in controlled conditions with the supervision of a trained instructor, so you don’t need a licence to take part in this sport in Greater Manchester or around the country. You don’t need to have fired or even touched a gun before either, because the same instructor who keeps you safe will help you to take your first shots, and make sure that you’re enjoying yourself - after all, they want you to come back for more!

And don’t let guns put you off from bringing the kids! The concentration and discipline means it’s a healthy activity for youngsters to enjoy and they’re welcome to take their first shots. The guns in question are shotguns, which in general are quite large and can produce a recoil when fired so, depending on the equipment available on the range, you will need to be at least 10, and sometimes older, to take part in a shoot.

The best way to enjoy it is with your people. Friendly competition always brings out the best in people, and if everyone in the group is trying this sport for the first time then they’re all on a level playing field. Unlike other target sports, this involves several participants firing at the same target within a few seconds of each other, which really makes everyone feel involved and helps develop team spirit. That’s why this is becoming one of the top choices for corporate team building outings, and many ranges here cater to work groups with a variety of packages which include shooting, food and refreshments, and even prizes.

How long does this experience last?

One of the nice things is that you’re not under the control of the clock. Instead, the most common way to organise a shoot is by the number of clays that you load into the trap. A have-a-go shoot is typically 25 clays, and it might take you half an hour to get through these, and you can always go back to buy more if you want to prolong your experience. Many clubs here offer individual tuition, and if you’ve had a go and want to take the next step in the sport then this is the best way to do it. These are organised by time, usually an hour or an hour and a half, in which time you’ll get a shot at plenty of clays and, with your instructor’s help, blast a good number of them to smithereens!

The length of a corporate sessions is appropriately, up for negotiation. It depends how much time you and your team have, and what you want to get out of the experience. A short 45 minute or hour long session could be a great way to blow off some steam, but if your objective is to get everyone working together and enjoying each others’ company we suggest taking 3 or 4 hours - half a working day - to invest in the strength of your team.

If that’s not enough to convince you to make a booking, just let us know what’s holding you back and we can clear up any doubts!