- Driven grouse shooting
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Driven Grouse Shooting is among the field sports of the United Kingdom. The grouse shooting season runs from the 12th August, often called "The Glorious Twelfth", to the 10th December each year.
The name "Driven Grouse Shooting" refers to the way in which the grouse are pushed or driven over the guns by beaters. There are usually 8-10 guns who stand in a line in butts (a hide for shooting screened by a turf or stone wall usually dug into the ground) and the birds are driven towards them by beaters. There is a strict code of conduct governing behaviour on the grouse moor for both safety and etiquette. Grouse shooting can also be undertaken by 'walking up' grouse over pointers, or by flushing the birds with other dogs.[1]
The red grouse is a medium-sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse, but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus. It is also known as the moorfowl or moorbird. The grouse can fly at up to 90 mph (140 km/h). [2]
Rural communities benefit from Grouse Shooting each year. A parish survey around Blanchland, Northumberland, has found that 55 per cent of people are either directly or indirectly involved in grouse shooting and that increased guest numbers in the four-month shooting season push up the hotel's average occupancy rate from 50 to 65 per cent per year.[3][4]
Some key statistics include:
- One keeper looks after approx. 3,500 acres (14 km2)
- Managers aim to hold 16 shootings days per 7,000 acres (28 km2)
- The fixed annual cost of running a grouse moor with two keepers is approx. £75000
- Each shooting day costs £1800 to run with 30 beaters and pickers up @ £35 per day per person, nine loaders @ £50 per day and fuel for five vehicles @ £60 per tank.
- Potential revenue from let shooting is £120 per brace with an average of 150 brace shot per day. Birds sold to a game dealer can fetch £4 per brace.
- Visiting guns spend in rural areas per shooting day including: £100 ppn dinner, bed and breakfast (Full party of 9 guns = £1800 including wives or partners), lunch for nine (£20 per head) and further unknown expense on fuel, gun equipment, shopping etc.[5]</ref>
References
- ^ Grouse Shooting
- ^ [1]
- ^ Grouse Shooting Benefits Rural Communities — The Herald
- ^ How Grouse Shooting Helps Rural Economies — Telegraph
- ^ Moorland Association
Template:Mr E C Chantler
Categories:- Bird hunting
- Hunting in Scotland
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