As predicted the extraordinary late Spring had a very significant marked impact on the grouse season, but the main thing was that when the grouse were able to get some bare ground to lay their eggs the weather picked up for hatching time, so big stocks were reported on many moors again, and some moors breaking their records ~ generally the moors that shot hardest in 2012 seem to have done the best.
Nidderdale was particularly good. The North York Moors were slightly disappointing given the stocks, but I believe that was due to the warm, balmy Autumn with temperatures not dropping below 15 degrees most shoot days, even in early November !
Many of the Pennine moors that shot hard in 2012 had extended programmes and the snow did not come to stop days, so shooting in some places kept going into December which is unusual. Many moors broke their season record but INTERESTINGLY still many of these smaller moors have not broken their day bag record which is either a reflection on the standard of shooting/experience of modern guns or there were bigger numbers naturally in the past.
There is no doubt moor season records being broken is a product of improved access on many moors plus appreciation that moors have to be shot harder/more frequently and generally for many more days than in the past.
2014
Fortunately it has been cool enough to prevent “worm” thriving through this years wet winter months of December, January and end February !
Large stocks almost universal across all moors, probably due to late maturing birds (later hatched) not flying in key first few weeks of the season last year.
The threat is new disease (Bulgy Eye) which is building up on the originally infected moors. It is probably shoots will request bio security measures for those who travel from moor to moor. New, isolated cases are appearing but if there is a good hatching time there could be a much increased incidence of disease ~ let’s hope not.
The warm, early Spring is encouraging grouse to nest earlier. I hope not a prelude to a wet, cold May. We will have some adverse weather between now and 1st June I am sure !
Adrian Thornton-Berry April 2014