Uncertain outlook for grouse season as ‘Glorious Thirteenth’ dawns

Although the grouse shooting season officially starts on August 12 under the Game Act 1831 England and Wales, it is an offence for any person to kill or take game on a Sunday or Christmas Day.

There are no statutory restrictions in Scotland but it is customary not to shoot game on Sundays.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, grouse cannot be shot on Sundays under the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said that prospects for the season were mixed owing to the recent bad weather. However, it said the full impact of the wet weather on grouse numbers probably would not be known until after the season starts.

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents more than 2,500 landowners in Scotland, praised the grouse shooting industry for bringing tourism, environmental and economic benefits.

It said many of these have an impact all year round.

Tim Baynes, of the Scottish Land & Estates moorland group, said: “It is clear that grouse shooting brings substantial economic benefits to Scotland. The most recent figures show this to be around £30m a year in monetary terms and the equivalent of 2,640 full-time jobs.

“This comes mainly through tourism and we are delighted that organisations like VisitScotland have now come on board to more robustly support country sports tourism through their website.”

He said the moorland management associated with grouse shooting meant more diverse wildlife was supported and more carbon was captured.