The Glorious 12th - 2025

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Klenchblaize

Klenchblaize

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Not my thing but surprised no other SD threads are to be found observing the importance of this once seminal date in the shooting calendar.

Clearly not deerstalking related but I like to think there remains a certain SD empathy with those who crave the sight of low flying quarry over Highland heather.

Times are changing IMHO and even without assistance from heavy metals.

K
 
Klenchblaize said:
Not my thing but surprised no other SD threads are to be found observing the importance of this once seminal date in the shooting calendar.

Clearly not deerstalking related but I like to think there remains a certain SD empathy with those who crave the sight of low flying quarry over Highland heather.

Times are changing IMHO and even without assistance from heavy metals.

K
Click to expand...

Im not so sure TBH - what surprises me the most this year is the lack of "attacks " on socials from the usual celebrities regarding it
I see a change for the positive tbh - what with the wild justice petition getting spanked.................again
 
I only did it once, driven grouse, but it was by far the best of all wing shooting I've ever done. It was on an estate in Scotland where we used to go deer stalking and walked up grouse shooting. In terms of "eating" I actually prefer a woodpigeon or a partridge. Nothing of course compares to a woodcock withe the trail in a cooked on toast.

A communication came from the Laird that he was thinking of restarting driven grouse that hadn't been done on the estate since the war. Using what remained of the existing butts and other butts he would place where previous ones had been but that had collapsed or become unusable. These other butts were essentially wooden pallets with some turf on the top...from memory.

Anyway the bottom line was "The estate is thinking of bringing back driven grouse, we'd like to try it before it's offered commercially, would you and your friends like to try it and it'll cost you the standard £60 each that you pay for a walked up day."

And we all said "No that's far too much money..."

Yeah, right! It was a long drive up from Leicestershire and we shot walked up elsewhere on the estate the day before...I think. But the next day was my one and only driven grouse for all of £60. For a day of from memory four or maybe five drives. I think we shot between the eight of us maybe forty-five birds of which I shot maybe four or five or six all told.
 
Been fortunate enough to shoot driven grouse (ie shoot at them) on several keepers days at end of season to reduce numbers.
We had high ones, low ones and ones jinking and diving down gullies. Absolutely mind blowing and totally frustrating but most enjoyable. Stuff the high pheasants these birds are real sport, only comparable shooting is a covey of wild greys bursting like a star shell as they top a high hedge and see the guns. I can't hit those either.
 
There’s nothing to compare it to. The splendour of the surroundings, anticipation, frustration, elation & celebration. No finer wing shooting to be had anywhere, the doves, parakeets, pigeons and even the perdiz of up-country Argentina are no match, excepting the volume. Quality however wins over quantity 100% every time. The moors are among most biodiverse areas of the Kingdom too, and even carbon storing, if that’s your thing.
 
Freeforester said:
There’s nothing to compare it to. The splendour of the surroundings, anticipation, frustration, elation & celebration. No finer wing shooting to be had anywhere, the doves, parakeets, pigeons and even the perdiz of up-country Argentina are no match, excepting the volume. Quality however wins over quantity 100% every time. The moors are among most biodiverse areas of the Kingdom too, and even carbon storing, if that’s your thing.
Click to expand...
Someone needs to explain this, and much more, to the 1st Minister!

The mistakes and unrealised alternative trajectory for Scotland are all to be found here IMHO:

K
 
Klenchblaize said:
Someone needs to explain this, and much more, to the 1st Minister!

The mistakes and unrealised alternative trajectory for Scotland are all to be found here IMHO:

K
Click to expand...

All the vermin need to be managed. In the first minute of the programme the curlew, lapwing and red grouse feature, with the skylark chiming in shortly thereafter; try finding those where words are placed above deeds, they are all but absent on unkeeperd land now. Try seeing them on your next visit to a Scottish RSPB reserve.

Science and evidence based decisions should trump politics, not the other way around.
 
I forgot. Grouse season opens here on 1st September, I’ m going counting Saturday.
Today I went stalking on what is probably the hottest ever day of the deer season in Wicklow, 27 C on the car thermometer.
We saw a few, sweated our nads off and fed the midges. Just home now.
The parade of deer out of the trees as the light fell and the temperature dropped was worth the trip, mostly hinds and calves, not a single stag our side of the boundary, but definitely a trip to remember, we even heard a grouse.IMG_1258.webp
 
Done a fair bit of flanking on local grouse moors ..... no fit enough for full on grouse beating when see the amount of ground and how fast they cover it !
Brilliant flanking the butt's watching the wee torpedeos hammering star burst Ower the butt's!!!
Bloody good eating too....
Helped Cai App Bryn of game and flames on a cooking demo up here and end of day Nick Nairn did a grouse with blue berry sauce over the fire..... was amazing !

Paul
 
i shot grouse both walked up and driven , bucketlist things but honestly it's a little rich for my pocket sadly

the sport is excellent though and with a lottery win i'd be a regular visitor to the moors !
 
Most years I'm on the moor on the Twelfth. Sometimes with a gun but often loading, in my teens beating.

From 1998 to 2017 we'd have a family and friends day in kilts on my in-laws place in the Highlands before it sold. My favourite day of the year by far.

This year here in the NW of England the heather beetle has been so bad nobody was shooting yesterday (bar one small walked up day which the antis descended on...)

Last year we didn't shoot at all on the wee farmers shoot I'm on but we are going to have a walk out in September so obviously the shoot captain thinks prospects are a little better this season

Walked up is more affordable than people think
 
Driven grouse, once, very last day of the season, obviously heavily discounted through someone who ran pointers and did the counts. Great experience, despite horrendous weather and minimal birds. It's difficult to say, if I had wealth, would I pay the going rate.
 
I was out yesterday driving one of the beaters wagons, fair show of grouse,also good to see young people in the line again, as mentioned above, it was a very hot and little wind
 
Grouse season 2025: Quiet moors, loud message

BASC’s head of uplands, Alex Farrell, says this year’s Glorious Twelfth marks a season of recovery, not reward, as low grouse numbers lead to cancelled or reduced shoot days. But the work on the moors continues – protecting wildlife, supporting rural communities and restoring vital habitats.

Grouse Season 2025: Quiet moors, loud message

BASC is marking the start of Scotland’s red grouse season by highlighting the sport’s economic, social, and environmental contributions – and warning that new muirburn licensing rules could threaten effective moorland management.

basc.org.uk

Grouse shooting delivers for Scotland, but muirburn rules risk gains

As Scotland’s grouse season begins, BASC highlights the sport’s benefits and warns new muirburn rules could impact moorland management.
basc.org.uk basc.org.uk
 
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