Shooting season worth millions to rural areas

Prospects for the 121-day grouse shooting season which got under way on Saturday have been shaped by recent weather.

Perthshire and southern parts of the country are expecting good results, but areas of the Highlands suffered late snow and cold, wet weather in June.

Robert Rattray, head of Sporting Lets, a division of Galbraith, said that estates will take decisions after assessing their bird populations.

“Some estates have already made their decision and some have cancelled part or all of their programmes, some will not be shooting at all, some will have reduced the number of days they are going to shoot,” he said.

“But some may find that as the season goes on they have more grouse.”

The economic contribution from grouse shooting is considerable, generating many millions of pounds for rural areas.

Although prospects for the season are a mixed bag, international interest in Scotland’s country sports continues.

Andrew Grainger, of the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group, said: “Scotland continues to attract a large number of European sports enthusiasts with increased interest this year from Scandinavia, Germany and France in particular, as well as North Americans who are particularly keen given the favourable exchange rates.”