Glorious Grouse, On A Budget

Shooting grouse walked-up can bring this expensive sport into the realms of affordability. Phil Moorsom reports on his syndicate’s memorable trip to the Yorkshire Moors last season

One of the great benefits of running our Rough Rovers syndicate is having a ready supply of enthusiastic Guns prepared to travel in their search for new and exciting shooting. I was not sure what the reaction would be from members when I suggested a grouse shooting trip up to the Yorkshire Moors. I need not have worried; the response was positive and immediate.

Bird for bird, grouse shooting is the most expensive form of our sport, but the walked-up format does bring a day within reach of Guns with a restricted budget for the season. It might mean sacrificing two walked-up days for one on the grouse but, done properly, it is an unforgettable experience. It would, however, be remiss of me not to issue a word of warning: grouse shooting is highly addictive.

So with six eager Guns booked in we set off for Skipton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The hospitality in the town was wonderful and the landlord at the first pub we visited bought us a round of drinks on learning we were up there to shoot grouse. A rare occurrence, from what I have been told about Yorkshiremen, but testament to the value of grouse shooting to the local economy.

I booked our team on a medium-sized managed estate recommended by a good friend of mine. We met the three full-time keepers at the shoot lodge for a cup of tea and a thorough safety briefing stressing the importance of holding a straight line over uneven and undulating terrain. We got into as few vehicles as possible and I joined the headkeeper for the short drive to the edge of the estate where we would start the day. I can honestly say I have never met a more enthusiastic, informative and knowledgeable keeper in my life. He absolutely loved his current position, and the pride and passion he had for his moorland and the grouse was infectious.