Vermin ticked off as grouse numbers fly in successful season

Published on Thursday 17 December 2009 21:46

THE grouse shooting season in Scotland, which ended last week, has been one of the best for several years.

Bags of up to 200 brace per day have been recorded on some Scottish moors, according to Robert Rattray, the Perth-based head of sporting lettings with land agents, CKD Galbraith.

"The investment in time and effort estates have been putting in to boost grouse numbers, coupled with favourable weather during the critical May/June period, is paying off and we have seen more grouse on many estates than we have seen for years," said Rattray.

"The Angus glens and Aberdeenshire have been particularly good."

However, he said Perthshire moors had been disappointing and Moray and Inverness more patchy.

The improvement in the grouse population had been due to improved grouse management and better keepering, including the control of tick-carrying vermin and fencing. Deer and hares are prime tick carriers but sheep are a useful management tool, as they pick up ticks which are then killed by dipping.

Demand for grouse shooting has not been adversely affected by the economic downturn and there is still plenty of interest from Scotland, England and Ireland, as well as the US, France and Belgium and other European countries.

"Red grouse are unique to the UK and Scotland offers the best shooting in the country," said Rattray.

"Grouse shooting is viewed as the absolute pinnacle of shooting – there is nothing more exciting – and is pretty well recession-proof because of the sport it offers."

It is estimated that grouse moor management contributes 17 million to Scotland's rural economy and sustains around 1,000 full-time jobs. But these figures are based on a survey carried out in 2000 and will now be significantly higher following recent investment by estates.

A survey is about to be carried out by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the University of Strathclyde to assess the economic impact of grouse on the rural economy.