A good grouse shooting season is forecast thanks to conditions during the winter and spring.
Experts believe that this year’s grouse season should certainly be as good as, if not better than, last year’s.
Robert Rattray, partner at CKD Galbraith and head of the firm’s Sporting Lets agency, said: “We had an interesting winter. The high grouse moors experienced more traditional winter weather with good snow falls, indeed Glenshee had an excellent ski season, whilst lower-ground moors had much milder and frost free conditions. Historically our better grouse years have followed a hard winter, so it will be interesting to see how the season develops.
“Across Scotland, the mild spring and good weather in May and June should have provided ideal breeding conditions, and it is now looking as if the season is shaping up to be another excellent year. Covey sizes are possibly slightly down on last year – around the six to eight mark – but there appears to be a good and consistent spread of birds across moors throughout Scotland.”
Sportsmen and sportswomen can expect to pay in the region of £150 plus VAT per brace for driven grouse and £100 plus VAT per brace for walked up grouse this season.
Last year Sporting Lets welcomed a number of new nationalities to the sport, with novices coming from as far afield as India and China to experience Scotland’s pre-eminent sporting offerings.
In terms of the fishing season, Mr Rattray said: “The spring run across Scotland in 2014 has been very disappointing. In comparison to the spring last year, numbers of returning salmon appear to be well down and rod catches have reflected this. There have been exceptions but these have been very localised and in general the rivers have been quiet.
“It is pleasing to report that sea trout numbers have been up on a number of rivers through May and June, and it would be fantastic if this trend was maintained on a year to year basis. We are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the grilse and subsequently the autumn run of fish.”