Grouse Season Set to Deliver Over £1 Million in Wages Across the North Pennines as the Glorious 12th Arrives with Renewed Optimism

Estates across the North Pennines are preparing for a significantly stronger grouse shooting season, with 318 driven days currently planned across 31 moors and more than £1 million in wages set to be paid directly to shoot-day staff.

The grouse shooting season gets underway tomorrow, Wednesday 12 August, with a much more positive mood across the moors following a challenging 2025 season. Summer brood counts have shown good numbers of young grouse on many moors, giving estates the confidence to proceed with their planned shooting programmes.

A survey of 31 moors undertaking driven grouse shooting in the North Pennines, carried out by the North Pennines Moorland Group (NPMG), found that between them the estates currently have 318 driven days pencilled in for the coming season. Based on figures provided by the moors, these days will generate approximately £1,064,460 in wages paid directly to shoot-day staff, including beaters, flankers and pickers-up.

The figure does not include the many additional low-ground shooting days taking place across the region, nor the caterers, loaders, drivers, gamekeepers, estate staff and suppliers required to make a driven grouse day possible. It also excludes the wider economic activity generated when visiting guns and staff spend money in local pubs, restaurants, shops, accommodation providers and garages throughout the North Pennines.

Sarah Hare, coordinator of the NPMG, said: "After last year's disappointing numbers, the encouraging brood counts have provided a welcome boost to estates, keepers, shoot staff and the wider businesses which benefit from the season. While conditions and grouse numbers vary from moor to moor, the overall picture is considerably more encouraging than it was this time last year."

The investment behind the season is entirely private, rather than government funding or public borrowing. Money spent by individuals who choose to invest in grouse shooting and moorland management circulates locally and repeatedly, providing an important source of income to communities throughout the North Pennines.

While grouse shooting continues to attract strong opinions and debate about the management of the uplands, behind the arguments are people whose jobs and businesses depend upon the industry. Gamekeepers and estates spend considerable time throughout the year managing habitat and controlling predators to create the conditions in which grouse can thrive.

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She added: "The red grouse is a bird held in exceptionally high regard by everyone involved in the industry. Tomorrow, as the first shots of the new season echo across the North Pennines, there will be a great deal of relief and excitement among those who have worked throughout the year to make the season possible."