Sporting estates across Scotland have enjoyed their most glorious twelfth for years, according to a leading agency.
The 2013 season draws to a close today and experts believe it may have generated up to £38million for the rural economy.
The warm, dry summer has been credited with boosting grouse numbers following a disappointing season last year.
Sporting Lets, run by leading Scottish property consultancy CKD Galbraith, said its shooting programme had been almost fully let throughout the whole season.
“This season has been quite a contrast to 2012,” said boss Robert Rattray.
“A cold and prolonged winter set the scene for a late spring followed by one of the warmest and driest summers for a number of years.
“As a result some grouse were well grown, offering fabulous shooting right from the start of the season whilst some chicks were literally days old and provided a developing stock which enabled good shooting into late October and early November.”
Inverness-shire performed much better than last year as a result of some of the more marginal moors shooting much better numbers. The best day from one high ground moor saw well over 300 brace shot.
Aberdeenshire was more mixed, partly due to the winter snow, with some moors reporting good shooting whereas others had to cancel significant parts of their programme.
Mr Rattray added: “Walked up grouse shooting is hugely popular and still very affordable, being around £100+VAT per brace with bags this season ranging from five to 25 brace for teams of up to six guns. However it is not as easy to find these days with some moors including Caithness and Sutherland having fewer grouse whilst bigger moors tend to concentrate on driven programmes.”
The majority of parties come from within the UK and demand shows no signs of abating. There are also significant numbers of international sportsman that visit the country.