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El Castanar is located at the foot of the Toledo Mountains approx 90 mins drive from Madrid and has been in Rafael and his brother, Jose Maria Finat’s family for many generations. The estates hunting heritage can be traced back over 600 years and habitation here pre-dates the Romans.
Spain’s deforestation countless generations ago has resulted in gently undulating hills that are cultivated with crops of Barley and similar during the summer months which are dotted with evergreen Iberian Oak Trees or Encna whose almost sweet acorns are much loved by the local Deer and Wild Boar populations.
In addition to the Oaks, numerous Almond trees litter the landscape also. These are generally the earliest flowering trees in Spain, heralding the spring during early March and April. These are complimented by Ash and Hawthorn with the landscape is littered with granite slabs and boulders similar to the African ‘Koppies’ over which I am more usually found!
The main Guest accommodation is located within converted Farm Buildings and Grain Storage Rooms at the heart of the estate, long since abandoned for their modern counterparts. As a result you will be staying in 15thCentury buildings which provide 16 Double Rooms, each of which is en suite.
The Guest Lounge is a hunter’s delight with taxidermy and trophies lining the walls complimented by photographs from previous guests with their prizes, some taken in Spain while many come from much further afield. The adjoining restaurant serves excellent traditional Spanish food using produce grown and reared on the farm including fresh free-range eggs of a quality rarely found these days and don’t get me started on their hams and rustic Chorizo Sausage which are made from Iberian Black Pigs reared on the estate as well as venison taken over their grounds.
In short, the food is plentiful and of a quality that many a West End restaurant would envy!
In terms of sport, El Castanar provides driven Partridge shooting, Stag Hind and Mouflon Stalking plus the traditional Spanish Monteria or driven Big Game Hunt which takes place in the Toledo Mountains over which part of the Estate lies.
Partridge Shooting
The season for driven Red-legged Partridge shooting runs from early October to mid February when much of the heat of the arid Spanish summer has passed. Early in the season it may well be that you will find yourself in shirt sleeves although winter temperatures can drop well below freezing with seasonal rains and the occasional flurry of snow. Certainly you will be well advised to check the anticipated climate before departure and obviously dress accordingly with layers being our personal recommendation complimented by wet weather gear should conditions demand them.
A Typical Spanish Partridge Shoot
A typical day will start at around 9.00am with a sumptuous breakfast of locally produced ingredients including fresh local eggs ham and fruit juices after which your party will receive a safety briefing and introduction to the sport before drawing pegs and being taken to the field. Introductions to your loaders or ‘Secratario’ take place at this time and this estate will provide each gun with two – one loader and a second to spot and collect the fallen game.
This is a well-oiled and fluid process honed through experience and practise and regardless of your ability to “Hable Español”, the universal language of hunting takes over allowing for adequate communication of sorts, especially since genuine enthusiasm transcends the vagaries of the spoken word. That said, many of the guides speak English and interpreters can easily be arranged should you wish for them.
Generally the first drive of the day commences at around 11.00am after which the game is collected and displayed, unlike the majority of estates, El Castanar only count the dead and this is done at the end of each drive so you always know where you’re up to! At this point your party will be served a light snack of local Hams. Cheeses, Sausage Wines and Sherry, possibly supported by a warm consume if the weather demands before commencing the next drive approximately an hour later.
Lunch can be expected at around 1.30 when weather permitting you will assemble around a roaring fire sharing spare ribs, local sausage and bacon with the now familiar tapas that visitors have come to love, in fact, each drive is punctuated with local produce including fine wines and beer with La Castanar, named for the local chestnut trees, also boasting its own vineyard where their full-bodied red is the perfect complement to the estates cuisine.
Each day will provide for 4-5 drives depending on the volume your party wish to shoot, besides, in some locations five drives is not realistic or practical. After this the shooting party will return to the estate for a light meal when guests are invited to relax and savour the moment. Just as well since you can expect the main meal of the day to commence at around 9pm!
Deer and Mouflon Stalking plus walked-up Game
El Castanar boasts a Red Deer population of circa 2000 head of game plus have Fallow and the occasional Roe plus Mouflon Sheep. These can be stalked on foot and generally the livestock is spotted first by vehicle before hunting commences and each stalk is conducted in the spirit of fair chase. Trophy prices apply to stags at the rates shown below although Hind and Ewe numbers also need to be managed and as a result we have packages and menu pricing for those not looking to take a trophy.
In addition, for those looking to shoot over Pointers and similar, walked-up game shooting is also possible at El Castanar for those interested.
Traditional Spanish Monteria
The Monteria is a traditional Spanish driven hunt for Big Game species including Red Deer, Fallow, Mouflon Sheep and Wild Boar and involves teams of guns being positioned across the Mountains and valleys using the fire break essential in such an arid region. The area selected will vary depending on the number of guns in the team when smaller drives for teams of 10-12 are possible although larger drives can consist of up to 40 hunters.
Beaters employ approximately 250 dogs to drive the game and guests can expect to shoot Red Stags and Hinds, Fallow, Mouflon Sheep and the occasional Roe Deer plus of course Wild Boar which are plentiful in this area due to their love of the sweet and highly nutritious Encna Acorns Chestnuts and similar that are found here.
Monteria Packages for 2011 provide for 1 x Representative Red Stag plus a couple of Hinds or Ewes depending on what comes your way plus unlimited Wild Boar. You can typically expect 2 such drives per day during which time maybe 20 pigs can be expected although with all hunting, no guarantees can be made with regard to volumes in open areas.
The reason the package specifies a ‘Representative’ Stag is because in such a hunt, cherry picking for medal quality specimens is not an option since the Monteria is the local and traditional method for animal management, as such you will be expected to take the shots that present themselves although additional stags bucks rams hinds and ewes can be taken at competitive fixed rates per species.
A typical Monteria or day Stalking:
Your day commences with a robust breakfast of ‘Migas’ – a traditional Spanish dish similar to an omelette containing eggs and potatoes complimented by sausage juices and coffee and you will need it since you will be hunting solidly until perhaps 3-4pm when you can enjoy a break and a snack in the field. This period will allow for perhaps two drives of Montera or a solid day’s stalking before retiring to the Farm for a cold one and a siesta after which the evening is spent socialising and enjoying more farm-fresh fair prepared by Maria who’s cooking makes her a firm favourite with guests to the Estate.
The hunting is conducted in the spirit of fair chase and this location invests heavily in preserving the local flora and fauna for future generations including the active protection and support for the protection of the Imperial Eagle and Black Vulture, as such you can expect to see a wide variety and volume of species greatly exceeding that found more closer to home.
The environment is varied since the estate nestles at the commencement of the Toledo Mountains therefore offering open rolling fields which are cultivated with barley and similar during the summer months and which are abbreviated with Iberian Oak trees who’s almost sweet acorns are highly prized by the local deer Mouflon and wild boar population.
For the dedicated trophy hunter, Red Stags to Gold Medal standard are possible locally although the estate is more geared to the stalker who is looking for a quality hunting experience is stunning countryside rather than for those looking to hunt with a tape measure.
To conclude I should say that while the species may be very familiar to many readers, the facilities, warmth of welcome, quality and volume of sport and variety of complimentary species and visitor excursions adds a very different dimension to that which I have experienced in the UK, besides, life is for living and there’s nothing like an overseas adventure to break up the long cold British Winter, especially in a local, friendly Country that has turned Tourism into an Art Form.
Prices and packages:
Driven Red-Legged Partridge Shooting
Up to 250 Birds / Day / Party €9600 + VAT
Up to 400 Birds / Day / Party €13300 + VAT
Extra Birds €30 + VAT
This includes overnight accommodation for the Group including high quality traditional Spanish cooking and beverages plus your ammunition but specific exclusions apply, please see below.
Monteria – Traditional Driven Big Game Hunt
Bag includes one Representative Red Stag plus two females from either Red or Fallow Deer. Mouflon Ewes may be taken as part/all of the female pair and the package includes unlimited Wild Boar also.
Price per hunter per day €1500 + VAT
Additional animals may be taken during the day when the following prices will apply:
Fallow Bucks & Mouflon Rams charged at €1200
Red Stags (irrespective of size) charged at €800
Red Hinds, Mouflon and Fallow Ewes charged at €100
This includes overnight accommodation for Hunters who may come either as an existing Shooting Team or solo Guns and small parties may be combined to make an appropriate Group. This including high quality traditional Spanish cooking and beverages but exclusions apply, please see below.
Big Game Stalking
Your daily rate for stalking will be €140 per hunter / day which will provide for accommodation with food and beverages in line the above as well as the services of a Professional Hunting Guide and 4x4 a vehicle. It also provides for local preparation of your trophies and onward delivery to the local taxidermist. The trophy prices per species follow:
Red Stag:
Up to 164.9 points CIC €1800
165 – 172.9 points CIC €2100 Bronze Medal
173 – 180.9 points CIC €2900 Silver Medal
181 – 184.9 points CIC €3400 Gold Medal
185 – 190.9 points CIC €3900 Gold Medal
191 – 195.9 points CIC €4100 Gold Medal
196 – 200 points CIC €4400 Gold Medal
201 and more points CIC €4400 + €100 / CIC point
Mouflon Ram:
Up to 194.9 points CIC €1800 Bronze Medal
195 – 204.9 points CIC €2300 Silver Medal
205 – 208 points CIC €2800 Gold Medal
208 and more points CIC €2800 + €100 / CIC point
Fallow Deer:
Up to 169.9 points CIC €1800 Bronze Medal
170 – 179.9 points CIC €2400 Silver Medal
180 – 184.9 points CIC €2800 Silver Medal
185 – 189.9 points CIC €3100 Gold Medal
190 – 194.9 points CIC €3300 Gold Medal
195 – 199.9 points CIC €3500 Gold Medal
200 – 204.9 points CIC €4100 Gold Medal
205 – 209.9 points CIC €4900 Gold Medal
210 and more points CIC €4900 + €100 / CIC point
Wounded and subsequently lost animals are charged at 50% of the estimated trophy size and therefore price. Should the animal then be recovered then the full trophy price will be payable. All prices attract VAT.
Excluded from prices
Hunting Licence and Insurance* €160 / Hunter
Airport Transfers when in Group €30 / person
Airport Transfers for solo guns/pairs £120 / vehicle
One Secratario €60 / Day – Required for Monteria
Two Secratario €120 / Day –For Driven Partridge
Spanish VAT currently chargeable @ 18%
*Spain requires all Hunters including those shooting Game Birds to purchase a 12 month Hunting Licence. This is therefore valid for multiple days / visits.
Un gusto de la caza Española – A taste of Spanish Hunting with The Hunting Agency
Since so many of our clients that enjoy Game Shooting are also interested in Driven Boar hunting and stalking, we thought it would be an interesting combination to arrange something special for the coming season to provide Un gusto de la caza Española at El Castanar to include the best of both worlds; A day of driven Red Legged Partridge shooting complimented by a traditional Spanish Monteria. Here is the schedule:
Day one - Depart Heathrow for Madrid, transfers to estate followed by welcome Dinner at El Castalar
Day two – 250 Bird Driven Red-legged Partridge Shoot in accordance with specified daily activities and dinner at the estate
Day three – Traditional Monteria including Trophy Red Stag, two females of either Fallow Red or Mouflon and unlimited Wild Boar followed by dinner at the Estate and an excursion into Toledo for those that are interested
Day four – transfers to Madrid and return flights to Heathrow.
Cost including economy flights from Heathrow: £2995 / gun
This trip is to take place during early November although it may be that we can organise a second in February once the UK Partridge season has finished, as too will most of the driven Boar hunting in Eastern Europe. Since numbers are strictly limited, please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested and Shooting Team Captains looking to organise a block booking are also very welcome, thank you.