G
rouse shooting as it is can probably
survive for another 10 years, but to succeed
long-term I believe it needs to address two
weaknesses. These are:
1: Affordability of grouse shooting
While the top-end of grouse shooting is very
successful in providing superb sport (albeit now
with dubious long-term sustainability) and great
upland biodiversity, this is only affordable to a
wealthy elite – and this fact is the cause of great
angst for antis, agitator conservationists and
class warriors.
Affordable grouse shooting exists but it is much
too small – and I believe it is at this end of the
market that there is great opportunity for
expansion. Opening up grouse shooting to more
estates and shooters involves restoring viability to
moors that became uneconomic during the late
20th century. British Moorlands encourages this
by developing and promoting innovative
techniques to reward the landowner and provide
enough grouse for falconry and/or modest bag
days for £300-500 per Gun. Half of Scotland’s
moorland is unmanaged and much of the rest is
under-managed so there is huge potential for
expanding grouse shooting.
Compared to our centuries-old fieldsports of
falconry, angling and hound sports, grouse
shooting is relatively new, having started about
150 years ago when breach-loading shotguns and
rail travel brought Guns to the moors. We must
admire our ancestors who found ways to get
exciting sport on a grand scale without modern
scientific knowledge or machinery.
The Golden Age of grouse shooting ran
throughout the first half of the 20th century apart
from the years of the two world wars, when the
keepers were called up for military service. Then,
some 60 years ago, great changes started to
affect the countryside, which required much
innovation for rural industries to survive. Farming,
forestry and even pheasant shoot management all
modernised and succeeded, but sadly the grouse
industry had lost its mojo to traditionalists and
was only able to survive as a high-cost niche
sport in a few areas most favourable to grouse.
2: The issue of raptors
The second big weakness is the conflict between
grouse shooting and birds of prey. The grouse
industry was founded on the two basic principles
of the rotational burning of heather and the culling
of all grouse predators. When raptors became
protected, they did not become any less
verminous and so grouse keepers found
themselves trapped between losing their jobs if
predation was too much and losing their career if
convicted of illegal culling. It is a disgrace that our
keepers have been under such pressure for so
many years. Instead of constant criticism of the
criminal minority, we should be asking why they
are desperate enough to risk their careers and
their employers’ farm subsidies and why the
grouse industry has failed to provide enough
solutions. How sad it would be if the sparks which
fired up the grouse industry 150 years ago are
snuffed out by owners and their advisers who fail
to adjust to life in the 21st century.
Sustainable grouse management does depend
on controlling predation and that has two
components – culling where legal, and using other
means to protect our birds. On British Moorlands
moors, we have 16 species of avian and
mammalian predators and eight are protected.
Their impact is reduced to acceptable levels by
designing and managing the habitat to allow the
grouse easier escape and refuge. Chicks are too
easily snatched from the long wide strips of young
heather produced under traditional management.
Nobody should feel under any legal or moral
obligation to host any predator on a grouse moor.
No species of predator is dependent on grouseand if a moor is made too difficult and
unproductive for them to hunt, they will hunt
elsewhere. Those who yearn to have more raptors
should be prepared to provide land and
management and dedication to their birds, just as
gamekeepers do for theirs, and not rely on raiding
the fruits of the keepers’ hard work.Work for May and June
Writing this in mid-May, we are having good
weather and the heather has been in good
condition for grouse to feed on. They have also
had some cotton grass buds, which are rich in
energy and protein – although these aren’t as
abundant as normal.
Predator control continues around the woods
and fields next to the moors. Crows are still
scarce – no complaints about that!
Some modifications are needed for my grouse
drinkers, which have worked well except in places
where sheep have knocked them over. This will
mean the use of spiked guards to prevent sheep
from drinking the water and stakes for anchoring.
The quiet of summer can provide time for
assessing results and it is pleasing to see that our
methods are getting much better results than the
neighbouring traditionally-run moors. Survival of the fittest
The grouse shooting industry needs to make some major changes in order to secure a
long-term future, says Dick Bartlett
PICTURE:DAN BEARDSMOREUPLAND DIARY
WITH DICK BARTLETT
Find out more and get in touch:
http://www.britishmoorlands.com
There is huge potential to expand Scotland’s
affordable grouse shooting