GROUSE shooters are braced for an uncertain season on the Glorious Twelfth with low bird numbers leading to some outings being abandoned altogether.
It comes as low bird numbers at some estates are said to be delaying the start of the season there while others are preparing for no shooting, with the Finzean Estate in Aberdeenshire cancelling its shooting programme after a disappointing bird count.
Overall, estates said prospects for the season are showing a "very mixed picture" with the likelihood of good shooting in Perthshire and the south of Scotland, while parts of the Highlands have suffered from late snow and some cold wet weather in June, delaying some shooting programmes.
Agenda: Glorious twelfth an occasion that is truly to celebrate
It is claimed that the economic impact grouse estates have on local communities - as well as the support for many threatened bird species - is hugely significant, and year-round management of estates is key to the rural economy across the country.
Recent figures from estate surveys around Scotland’s seven regional moorland groups show that over £23 million flows directly into local businesses in trade generated by estate activity, with the downstream spend in local businesses from mechanics to butchers to cafes and village shops generated from each estate being on average £500,000.
The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group said its Game for Growth strategy aims to increase the value of country sports to the Scottish economy by £30 million by 2020, bringing the total to £185 million.
Herald View: The debate continues to rage over grouse shooting
However, the shoots are also being scrutinised by the conservation groups.
Ian Thomson, of RSPB Scotland, said estates should be licensed amid ongoing concern over the protection of persecuted raptors.
He said: "We feel that regulation is the only way forward. Self-regulation has failed.
"We'd like to see a situation where a right to shoot has to be dependent on both sustainable and legal management of our uplands."
Tim Baynes, director of the landowners' Scottish Moorland Group, said licensing is a draconian measure and open to abuse.
He said: “Continued moorland management is not only economically beneficial but is of huge benefit to many other moorland birds, some of which are endangered including the curlew, which is on the red list for birds of conservation concern.
"It is also very encouraging to see 16 shooting estates across Scotland taking part in a ground-breaking project to help raise efforts in protecting hen harriers as part of the ‘Heads Up for Harriers’ project.”
Agenda: Glorious twelfth an occasion that is truly to celebrate
Country sports backers said a study by Newcastle and Durham Universities, which surveyed 18 moorland estates, found 76 species on the moors including 43 endangered ones, with some species flourishing.
It is claimed predator control meant more skylark, lapwing, curlew and golden plover on managed moors.
Andrew Grainger, of the SCSTG, 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.”
Grouse shooting season lasts from 12 August to 10 December.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel