17/08/2006 - The UK grouse season opens with some mixed reports

After the disasters of last year and the fact there was less breeding stock around, this season has opened reasonably well in England and in southern Scotland with bags of 100 + brace. However, the further north you go the more disappointing it gets although there are a few moors that are shooting well - these are tending to be the ones that left a good and healthy stock at the end of last season.

The dry and warm conditions throughout the year did help the breeding and kept the worm counts down, but the weather has meant that ticks have thrived in many areas which have had a serious detrimental effect, especially in the north of Scotland. In summary, it is a much improved start on last year but a number of moors are consolidating and re-building their stocks for the future.