First grouse shooting season with licencing law gets underway in Scotland

In March, the Scottish Government passed the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act.

Now in full effect, the legislation requires grouse shooting estates to possess a licence to conduct shoots which can be revoked if they are found to have engaged in illegal activities, such as killing birds of prey.

It also further regulated the trapping of animals such as foxes, weasels, rabbits and crows by banning snares.

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Moors that are home to grouse must now apply for a licence that lasts five years, with NatureScot opening for applications in mid-July.

The Scottish Greens have urged authorities to be vigilant as the shooting season gets underway on Monday, which is known as the Glorious Twelfth amongst shooting enthusiasts.

Rural affairs spokesperson Ariane Burgess said: “There’s nothing glorious about the killing of helpless animals. Yet, every year, we have seen this organised cruelty taking place across Scotland.

“I hope that this is the year that we will start to see change. We have had a huge step forward in wildlife protections, following the passing of legislation to end the lawless and bloody scenes that have become so common.

A grouse shooters holds out his quarry on the 'Glorious Twelfth' (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

“This is the first year that these new laws will be used. We will all need to be vigilant and learn from their enforcement.

“For decades, shooting estates have failed to control the killing of our iconic birds of prey, and it is crucial that any estates found to be in breach of their obligations are held accountable.”

She added: “Our world-renowned landscapes are for all of us. They are not, and must never be, a playground for a small number of wealthy shooters.

“It’s great to see the leadership of estates that have decided to move away from these barbaric practices.”

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Some estates have not yet applied for a licence due to uncertainty over mapping requirements as part of the application process but Scottish Land and Estates bosses have said they are hopeful that dialogue with NatureScot would address these challenges and resolve the matter.

Ross Ewing, director of moorland at Scottish Land and Estates, said: “The licensing regime is the biggest change to grouse shooting in generations and we are entering into a new era for those involved in the sector.

“We had to work hard to ensure the legislation was as proportionate and workable as possible for moor owners and gamekeepers and we believe this has been achieved in most respects.

“We are encountering challenges regarding the maps that are required by NatureScot to accompany licence applications but we are hopeful this can be resolved soon.

Members of a shooting party on the moors in the Lammermuir Hills, near Gifford, East Lothian (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

He added: “We also know that moors have a huge role to play in protecting fragile habitat, whilst peer-reviewed science is demonstrating that vulnerable and threatened species such as the Eurasian Curlew can produce four times as many chicks on grouse moors than on unmanaged moorland.

“The Scottish Government is on record as firmly supporting the positive role that grouse moors play for people, jobs and nature and we want to work with them and other stakeholders to sustain those benefits as the new regime gets under way.”

The shooting lobby had launched last minute efforts to keep certain types of snares legal in Scotland, urging ministers not to ban so-called “humane cable restraints”.

However, they were ultimately unsuccessful.

It comes after Extinction Rebellion held a protest outside Dundee Airport on Monday, where activists expected the arrival of wealthy shooters.

Extinction Rebellion held a protest against grouse shooting outside Dundee Airport (Image: Extinction Rebellion Scotland)

With the costs of a day’s shooting reaching into the £1000s, they argued that the “use [of] vandalised land to kill and exploit nature is the preserve of the entitled few”.

A NatureScot spokesperson said: “Any estate that is planning to shoot grouse this year must have a licence to do so.

“We would urge those properties who have not applied yet, but are intending to shoot grouse this year, to apply as soon as possible.

“We worked closely with stakeholders to develop the licensing approach, and we are continuing to discuss mapping requirements with Scottish Land and Estates and others to ensure that this aspect can be refined.

“This is a new area of licensing, and we encourage any applicant with questions about the process to get in touch with the team for advice and support.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 is a significant step in our wider journey to ensure Scotland’s environment is managed sustainably.

“We have struck the right balance between improving animal welfare, supporting rural businesses and reinforcing a zero tolerance approach to raptor persecution and wildlife crime.”