A ‘steady’ start for grouse

The GWCT confirms a welcome boost to breeding in the uplands, but early season days are hard to find as shoots struggle to fill beating teams

Beaters, Guns and gamekeepers are looking forward to a steady return to grouse shooting as counts show respectable, but not bumper numbers of birds on the ground.

Keeper Bob Connelly summed up the state of affairs on his shoot as “patchy”, adding that “it’s the same situation people are finding in most places”. Mr Connelly said that he intended to shoot on the Twelfth and then to see how things go. Other estates have a more substantial set of dates lined up, but few expect to break any records this year.

Dave Baines, the GWCT’S director of upland research, explained the ecology of the situation. “On many moors, birds are still recovering in their numbers from poor breeding last year,” he said. “In northern England, the best grouse are in the North York Moors. Some parts of the northern Dales are reasonable, having seen good broods but poor adult survival due to continued parasitic worm problems.

“It has been a great year for chick survival — adequate and timely crane-fly emergence, decent weather and heather in good condition. A big boost to breeding was provided in March by an exceptionally good display of cotton-grass flowers promoting good, large eggs.”

Good grouse beaters seem to be scarce, with several estates struggling to fill their teams, especially for week-day shoots.

The availability of grouse shooting is difficult to determine. Early season days are very limited and what will be on offer later in the season is uncertain.

It seems certain that political challenges to grouse shooting will continue, said Ross Ewing, Scottish Land & Estates director of moorland. “Licensing of grouse shooting and muirburn continues to be on the radar, but we would not forecast any substantial developments until next year,” he commented.

“In the meantime, those who work on and with our moors are continuing to engage and demonstrate to politicians and decision-makers the vital work that they undertake to address the biodiversity crisis, to tackle climate change and to enhance our environment.”

“On many moors, birds are still recovering from last year”

Early season grouse days are in short supply