Days Out NI
Adventure & activity Dungannon

Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association

Northern Ireland's clay shooting governing body, with a route in for first-timers.

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OpenRequired; contact a UCPSA member club dir…
TicketedPer person
DungannonAdventure & activity
A couple of hoursHow long
TicketedCost
Families and gr…Best for
All levelsLevel
NearbyParking

Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting AssociationNorthern Ireland's clay shooting governing body, with a route in for first-timers.

  • What you do: Clay target (clay pigeon) shooting with a shotgun under instructor supervision.
  • Difficulty: Beginner friendly, no fitness or walking demand; instructor guides every shot.
  • Age / height: Shooters from age 12 at PSNI authorised clubs; no upper age limit. Check each club's own rules.
  • Booking: Required; contact a UCPSA member club directly rather than the Dungannon office.
  • Come ready: Sturdy boots, weatherproof clothes you do not mind getting muddy; ear and eye protection are required and usually provided.
  • Weather: Outdoor grounds; ear and eye protection mandatory; sessions are weather dependent and run under qualified supervision.
Plan your visit

What clay shooting actually involves

A clay target is a small disc thrown into the air by a machine called a trap, and your job is to break it with a shotgun. At a beginner session a qualified instructor stands with you, loads and sets the gun, talks you through stance and timing, and lets you take your shots one at a time. There is no fitness test and no walking distance to speak of, so it suits people who would not fancy a hill climb. Everyone taking part wears ear defenders and eye protection. Breaking your first clay is the moment people remember, and most first-timers land a few in a session.

Governing body, book via clubs Beginners welcome Age 12+ at authorised clubs Qualified instructor No licence to learn Near Dungannon
Good to know before you go:

Adventure centres and trails run seasonal guided sessions, family events and holiday activities; the booked attractions have their own seasons. Clay clubs run a full competition calendar through the year and many offer beginner sessions, so check listings and the UCPSA calendar for dates.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Clothes you can trashOld kit and trainers you do not mind getting muddy or wet.
  • 🎒A full change & a towelEspecially for anything on the water — you will be glad of dry clothes after.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will have earned it once the adventure is done.
  • 🎫Your bookingAlmost everything here needs booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Set by the individual club, not the office; ask when you book your session or taster
Booking
Required; contact a UCPSA member club directly rather than the Dungannon office
Activity
Clay target (clay pigeon) shooting with a shotgun under instructor supervision
Difficulty
Beginner friendly, no fitness or walking demand; instructor guides every shot
Age / height limits
Shooters from age 12 at PSNI authorised clubs; no upper age limit. Check each club's own rules
Best for
Families and groups wanting a guided first-time shooting session; mixed ages
What to wear / bring
Sturdy boots, weatherproof clothes you do not mind getting muddy; ear and eye protection are required and usually provided
Safety / weather
Outdoor grounds; ear and eye protection mandatory; sessions are weather dependent and run under qualified supervision
Parking
At the member club's ground; confirm when booking
How long to allow
Allow a couple of hours for a beginner session, depending on the club
Address
UCPSA office, 31 Ranfurly Crescent, Dungannon, BT71 6PH (governing body, not the shooting ground)
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Required; contact a UCPSA member club directly rather than the Dungannon office
How much is it?
Set by the individual club, not the office; ask when you book your session or taster
Is there an age or height limit?
Shooters from age 12 at PSNI authorised clubs; no upper age limit. Check each club's own rules
What should we wear or bring?
Sturdy boots, weatherproof clothes you do not mind getting muddy; ear and eye protection are required and usually provided
What if the weather is bad?
Outdoor grounds; ear and eye protection mandatory; sessions are weather dependent and run under qualified supervision
Getting there

Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is at UCPSA office, 31 Ranfurly Crescent, Dungannon, BT71 6PH (governing body, not the shooting ground). At the member club's ground; confirm when booking. Tap below for directions.

Nearby

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The story

About this place

The Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is the national governing body for clay target shooting in Northern Ireland. It represents over 1,000 individual members and around 50 affiliated clubs, run by a board of directors, discipline representatives and a secretary based at the Dungannon office.

The association's job is the organisation behind the sport: running the competition calendar, selecting teams, setting policy and keeping the directory of member clubs that hold the actual shooting grounds. Several of those clubs sit near Dungannon, among them Dungannon Clay Pigeon Club.

Young shooters can start from age 12 at PSNI authorised clubs, and there is no upper age limit, which is why the sport is often described as one you can take up at any age and keep for life. Newcomers learn under qualified instruction without needing a firearm certificate.