HERTFORDSHIRE—NOVEMBER 1-8 2025
THE ITINERARY
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Tonight we gather for a formal dinner in a private dining room at the elegant Cavalry & Guards Club, on Piccadilly in London, at the invitation of Dr. John Thalgott, a founding member of the AASS and captain of this week’s shoot. Established in 1890, Cavalry & Guards is members-only and one of the most prestigious clubs in London, with premises that can only be described as palatial.
Dress will be white or black tie; medals may be worn.
SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER
Guests will be collected from their London hotels at 10:30 and brought to Carl Russell & Co. Gunmakers at Hatfield House, about an hour’s drive to the north. After everyone has selected their guns for the week, we then depart to St. Michael’s Manor, a townhouse hotel in St. Albans that will be our base for the week. Everyone is free this afternoon and evening to explore the historic cathedral city of St. Albans—the Romans called it Verulamium—with its many shops, pubs and restaurants. Dinner this evening is in a private dining room at the hotel.
MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER
Today we depart at 8:45 for Gorhambury, a nearby estate that has been in Lord Verulam’s family for some 300 years. This is one of the best shoots in Hertfordshire, showing mostly pheasants in 30-plus drives on some 3,000 grassy acres. We will have the usual elevenses in the field between drives and a light lunch in the Well House at the shoot. After our 300-bird day, we return to our hotel to prepare for a special evening: Lady Verulam has invited us to a private champagne reception and tour of her grand house at Gorhambury—which has just undergone an 8-year restoration and renovation—followed by dinner in the house.
TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
Today will be another 300-bird day, this time at the Buttermilk Shoot on the Woburn Abbey estate in Bedfordshire, about 20 minutes away. This is a highly regarded and long-established shoot on about 1,000 acres, showing mainly pheasant with some duck and with drives to suit any wind conditions. Dinner this evening will be at one of our favourite restaurants, the Golden Elephant, in the nearby village of Wheathampstead.
WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER
Today is our traditional midweek touring day and we have been invited by Douglas Day, an honorary commander of the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, for a unique, behind-the-scenes visit to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. We will tour this large NATO air base and see the F-15E Strike Eagle jets and their armament up close. There may even be an opportunity to try the flight simulator, but this is subject to operational requirements.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER
As usual when we shoot Hicknaham Farm, one of our year-on-year favourites, we need only a late start this morning. After a leisurely breakfast, we will depart St. Michaels Manor at 11:00 to drive 45 minutes to the farm. Hicknaham is the home of England’s best high-volume duck shooting, and we have a 300-bird day waiting for us. At elevenses and again at our traditional Hicknaham Farm roast-beef dinner this evening, we will enjoy the hospitality of our hosts, Jason and Judy Rayner.
FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER
Our final shooting day: 300 pheasant & partridge at Brocket Hall, another top-notch Hertfordshire estate that dates to the 13th Century. With its rolling hills and mature woodlands, it presents excellent driven game as well as a renowned shoot lunch.
Note: At our farewell dinner tonight, in our private room at St. Michaels Manor, with all due pomp & ceremony we will invest new members (if any!) into the Anglo American Shooting Society, and—should any member have proven so deserving—once again award the Don Foster Cup. As always, the dress code will be full AASS regalia; medals may be worn. Guests who are not members are asked to wear jacket & tie or elegant dress/suit.
SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER
Subject to your departure times, we will arrange transport to Heathrow Airport or back to London, as you wish. When booking your flights, please bear in mind that St. Michael’s Manor is an hour’s drive from Heathrow and you must be at the airport at least two hours before your departure time, so afternoon flights are most convenient.
INCLUDED
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All activities and shooting as described
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All accommodations as described
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All meals as described, including table wines
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Airport or hotel transfers and transfers to and from each venue
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UK Visitors Shotgun Permits
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Loaner guns if desired
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Loaders if desired
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Unlimited cartridges
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All keepers’ and loaders’ gratuities
NOT INCLUDED
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Travel to and from the UK
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Accommodation in London on Saturday, 1 November
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Alcohol other than wine with meals
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Personal items (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
NOTES
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You are welcome to bring your own gun(s), and we will arrange the necessary documentation as required.
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Guns must be double-barrelled break-action types, side-by-side or over/under; pairs are not necessary.
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Loaner guns will be available at no charge; please let us know in advance if you prefer this to bringing your own gun(s).
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Loaders are available if you wish; they accompany you during the day, carry your gun and cartridges, guide you to the stand, offer shooting instruction if desired and clean your gun at the end of the day. Loaders must be booked in advance, so please let us know if you’d like one. (Their cost is included in the package price.)
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Daytime temperatures in November will typically be 45 - 55 degrees F and rain is possible at any time, so wellingtons or similar boots and a waterproof coat and hat are advisable.
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Gun slips and cartridge bags will be available.
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If you have special dietary requirements, please advise us in advance.
COST
The total cost is £15,450 per shooter. Non-shooters are welcome at £1,950 each, double occupancy.
(A car and driver will be available for non-shooters who wish to go off on their own, but of course non-shooters are welcome to join their Guns in the field at any time.)
A 50% deposit is due with your booking and the balance will be due on 1 September 2025.