Drumbanagher Estate Shoot

A premier private driven-game estate near Poyntzpass, set across approximately 650 acres of steep wooded valleys, tree-lined pasture and historic demesne landscape.

Drumbanagher Estate Shoot is based within the historic Drumbanagher demesne a few miles south of Poyntzpass in County Armagh. The private walled estate extends to around 650 acres and is known throughout Ireland and further afield for challenging high pheasant and driven mallard shooting in a landscape naturally suited to traditional field sport.

The demesne was historically the seat of the Close family. Drumbanagher Castle itself was built in 1837 for Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell Close and, although the main house was later demolished, its large surviving portico remains as a reminder of the scale and character of the former residence. Today, the steep wooded valleys, mature woodland, cover crops and rolling pasture form the setting for one of Northern Ireland’s best-known private shoots.

Driven pheasant shooting forms a major part of the season. Drumbanagher currently offers pheasant days from mid-October through to the end of January, with the main season concentrated between November and January. Typical full driven days are designed around teams of around eight to ten Guns, with the estate able to tailor the expected bag and format according to the group, date and conditions.

The topography is central to the experience. Twelve named drives — including Armagh Wood, Bell’s Hill, Carrickbrack, Clay Park, Demoan, Kennel Wood, Whites, Kendals, The Avenue, The Bulge, The Garden and The Bog — allow the shoot team to use different valleys, woods and lines according to the wind, weather and sporting requirements of the day.

A typical driven day begins around 9.30am at the Shooting Lodge with coffee and introductions before the team heads into the field. Around six drives are normally attempted over the course of the day, depending on conditions and progress. The estate is compact enough that walking between drives forms part of the social character of the day, although mechanised transport can be arranged where required.

Hospitality is woven into the sporting experience. Light refreshments are served in the field during driven pheasant days, while many groups choose to shoot through and return to the stone-built Shooting Lodge after the final drive for drinks, a hot meal, dessert, tea and coffee. Partners and non-shooting guests can also be welcomed by prior arrangement.

Drumbanagher is equally well known for driven mallard. Duck shooting begins from September and can be arranged as a standalone morning, an afternoon or evening flight, or combined with pheasant according to season. The estate uses a series of woodland settings, natural bogs and secluded pools, creating a different style of sport from the pheasant drives while retaining the compact, private-estate character of the day.

Later in the season, semi-driven days provide a more relaxed alternative for smaller groups. These normally run from late December to the end of January and combine ‘walk and stand’ shooting for teams of approximately four to six Guns, using a selection of established and less formal drives across the estate. The format can include pheasant, duck and other seasonal game depending on the day.

Drumbanagher is also well positioned for travelling visitors. The estate is approximately 35 miles south-west of Belfast and around 65 miles north of Dublin, with convenient road access to both cities, airports and ferry terminals. The shoot can recommend or help arrange nearby accommodation, including established four-star hotel options and smaller country-house stays.

Bookings are handled directly and individually rather than through a simple public ticketing system. Parties and individual Guns are invited to enquire with their requirements, after which the shoot provides a written booking proposal covering the date, group size, expected bag, cost and any special arrangements. All participants must hold the appropriate current firearms licensing approval required to shoot legally in Northern Ireland.

Why W.ie chose Drumbanagher Estate Shoot: Drumbanagher offers a very different kind of privately run Irish experience — specialist, seasonal and deeply connected to the landscape in which it takes place. The combination of a historic 650-acre demesne, steep wooded drives, professional shoot management, traditional hospitality and a reputation that attracts experienced sporting visitors from Ireland and overseas makes it an important addition to W.ie’s country-pursuits offering. It is not a mass-market attraction; it is a carefully managed estate experience for people specifically looking for high-quality driven sport in Northern Ireland.