2012 season
A truly memorable year – best ever season for many Yorkshire Moors in lower rainfall areas – of particular note the North York Moors were many days over 100 brace common place which is extraordinary.
I doubt we will see such consistency again which was the product of a perfect grouse climate – dry, cold winter, warm hatching time and a wet summer, producing an abundance of chick food.
There were not as many grouse on the higher, wetter moors and so cancellations occurred, particularly in the Southern Dales. Therefore there was not as much late season shooting as in previous plentiful years.
2013
The majority of moors have a large stock. If the mild, warm, wet winter weather continues the outlook for the health of the birds is not good. Outbreaks of other diseases on some moors and limited medicated grit supply imply trouble ahead. It is very unlikely we will have such benign/good weather at hatching this year and the birds are likely to be affected by drought/worm/late snow, so do not expect another bumper season !
Adrian Thornton-Berry
January 2013