doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Grouse season in the UK

I have not heard how the driven grouse season is going

Awful.
Widespread cancellations.
Pockets of abundance as always.

My regular two days of walked up (near Inverness) were cancelled for the second year running.

Just curious- do you use the same gun (gauge, chokes, etc.) for the walk-up hunting of red grouse as you shoot for the driven grouse shooting? RWTF

Yes, though I have used different guns over the years.
Nowadays it is an AyA No 1 12 bore bored fairly open (I think probably about improved cylinder and 1/4) and using 1 oz loads.

I have only done very limited driven grouse shooting, though I have done walked up almost every year for over 30 years.

You don't want a heavy gun when walking as you get older!

Too true. Walking on springy heather moorland can be very tiring. Not heard much about this season yet but last year we had a severe winter which lasted into spring followed almost immediately by a hot drought. This year bit better but they take time to recover. Lagopus�..

Good testimony to the AYA- almost bought one about 10 years ago-- bought another L.C. Smith instead- nice to have choices, isn't it. Do you use dogs for the walk-up shooting? Pointing breeds, or flushing? RWTF

We walk up with pointers. I don't have a dog myself, but others in the line do. Other dogs (spaniels & retrievers) are used to pick up.

What we do wouldn't suit everyone as it is a lot of walking, usually not easy walking, and little shooting (5 brace would be a good day). If the weather has been wild, the birds can be very wild - and you might see many birds, but all getting up too far ahead of the walking line to get a shot.

If I want guaranteed cartridge use - I go and shoot some clays.

Part of the joy of walked up shooting is that nothing is easy - and any 'success' is so much more 'worthwhile' as a result.

Is it hard to line up walk-up grouse hunting? Do you have any suggestions on who to contact to organize a walk-up grouse hunt in England or Scotland?

Walk up hunting is hunting not shooting. I agree if I want to go shooting clay targets are much easier. But hunting just adds so much more to my life. Watching a fine dog can be a joy.

I wish I could hunt ten coveys of wild quail on my farms but there aren�t that many and they never could withstand the hunting pressure. So in my case I have turned to shooting Dove as a substitute. I�d shoot geese but the golf course would miss them and our duck migration is so late that the season is over before they show up in numbers.