Boughton Estate (Northants)

“Boughton Estate is a working country landscape, supporting Buccleuch’s diverse enterprises including forestry, agriculture and renewable energy.” Buccleuch, of course refers to the Duke of Buccleuch, one of Scotland’s largest and wealthiest landowners. He is based at Drumlanrig Castle, another part of Buccleuch’s vast shooting portfolio. Boughton, described on GunsOnPegs as “one of Northamptonshire’s premier Sporting Estates”, is another of his properties. While both Boughton and Drumlanrig has introduced ‘simulated game shooting‘ (clays being fired to mimic the experience of a live bird drive) they admit this is in response to demand from “novices to experienced guns who often want to get sharpened for the season ahead”. Pheasant shooting is of course still offered on the estate along with syndicated deer shooting. The estate also hosts the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt, giving them full access to the estate on multiple occasions during the ‘season’ (they employ George Whittaker who reportedly used to be huntmaster for the Pytchley despite being interviewed under caution for assault). The hunt was reported to have met for cubbing on the Boughton Estate in September 2024. In January 2025 Northants Hunt Sabs recorded the Pipewell Foot Beagles killing a hare on the estate and asked their supporters to “contact Boughton House and politely ask them why they have allowed this illegal act on their land.”