Montes de Toledo · Central Spain · More than 40 years of experience
Thrush shooting in Spain: the morning flight
One of the most demanding days of wingshooting in Spain, and the one almost nobody outside the country has heard of. Pegs set before first light, a few kilometres from Cork Valley, which sits 55 km from Toledo and 130 km from Madrid.
From €1,000 per day
Book a morningWhat a thrush morning is like
Thrushes have always been shot from a fixed peg, and that is where the sport lies. The birds make the same journey every day between the scrub where they roost and the ground where they feed. The shoot is simply a matter of standing in that flight line and waiting. It sounds easy and it is not: a thrush picks you out from a long way off, so the peg has to be chosen well, you have to be tucked in properly, and you have to keep still.
They come head-on, low and very fast, and almost always closer than they look. It is a short, instinctive shot that has nothing in common with partridge. Guns who arrive used to big birds and long crossing flights usually miss the first few and work it out by the third.
The shoot is a morning affair, because that is when the flight happens. A good dog that retrieves and sits still at the peg makes all the difference: wounded thrushes hide, and without a dog you lose them.
One thing worth saying plainly: we shoot with shotguns from fixed pegs only, which is the legal method. We do not use electronic callers, which are banned in Spain, or any other unauthorised technique.
What the day includes
- Transfer from Cork Valley to the pegs and back.
- A loader for every gun.
- An interpreter, so nothing gets lost in translation.
- Breakfast before you go out.
- A traditional local lunch to finish.
Compare that with what the rest of the market charges. On a Spanish driven day the loader is extra, €70 to €150 a day; gun hire runs €100 to €150; and a non-shooting companion €200 to €400. Here the loader, the interpreter, the transfer, breakfast and lunch are already in the price.
Accommodation at Cork Valley is booked separately at corkvalley.es.
What a thrush day costs
The morning is sold as a fixed-price day, in bands according to the bag:
| Up to 30 thrushes | €1,000 | fixed day |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 50 thrushes | €2,000 | fixed day |
| More than 50 thrushes | €3,000 | fixed day |
Minimum 20 thrushes per day.
| Gun hire | €50 | per gun, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Box of 25 cartridges | €15 | per box |
Coming from the United States or abroad
- A Castilla-La Mancha hunting licence, applied for online. Current fees: €41.79 for one year, €70.00 multi-region for one year, €208.91 for five years. We take care of the whole process for you.
- Your own hunting credentials count, so there is no Spanish exam if you hold a licence or hunter-education certificate at home.
- Third-party liability insurance, compulsory to shoot here.
- Gun hire at €50 per gun per day, so you need not bring a firearm.
When you can shoot thrush
The season runs from 8 October to 20 February. Tell us the dates you have in mind and we will confirm availability.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a thrush shooting day in Spain cost?
The morning is a fixed-price day in bands: €1,000 up to 30 thrushes, €2,000 for 30 to 50, and €3,000 above 50. The minimum is 20 birds. Gun hire (€50) and cartridges (€15 per box of 25) are extra.
Is thrush shooting legal in Spain?
Yes, within the open season set each year and using authorised methods. We shoot with shotguns from fixed pegs only. Electronic callers are banned in Spain and are not used.
Can it be combined with a partridge day?
Yes. Thrush are shot in the morning, so it fits well with a few days at Cork Valley combining both.
The morning and the olive groves
Book your morning
Tell us the dates, how many guns you are and which band you are after. We confirm availability and lock the day in.
Accommodation booked separately at corkvalley.es