2026 Grouse season

[wassy]

Keepers sent me the shoot dates for this coming season last week and it looks like the Heather beetle are still a major problem. Probably half the days they would have hoped for and some of those have a question mark next to them.
A couple of long time keepers I know have moved on to other employment as they can’t see any future in it.
Looks like nature may be the deciding factor in the future of Grouse shooting not the anti shoot campaigners.
In bloom a couple of years ago.

 

[KMD]

I was talking to Richard Iveson on Preston Moor recently. He was saying something similar. They scaled back on their shoots this last year too. The Moor is now owned by Metcalfes who he says have been good to work for so far, so hopefully his job is secure.

 

[Wapping]

…and it looks like the Heather beetle are still a major problem….

Can’t you shoot them?

PS The grousing season never closes on these pages.

 

[wassy]

August days cancelled on one big Moor up here. I had a ride up a couple of weeks ago and thought it looked barren.

 

[King Rat]

August days cancelled on one big Moor up here. I had a ride up a couple of weeks ago and thought it looked barren.

The Peak District the same - only now what was dark heather and no purple to speak of, much of it is now blackened and bare soil....

 

[wassy]

Did a couple of different drives today and it was slightly better.
Got a good soaking around lunchtime but it’ll take some serious rain to recover.
That’s it for us this August due to other commitments but there’s only one more day on this Moor anyway.