Economics of Grouse Shooting

Cumbria (excluding North Pennine moors)
Acres covered: 40,068
Potential number of shooting days: 96
Equivalent number of full time keepers: 11
Employment and ancillary costs: £585,300
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £1,785,600
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £207,360

Peak District
Acres covered: 35,000
Potential number of shooting days: 80
Equivalent number of full time keepers: 10
Employment and ancillary costs: £519,000
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £1,488,000
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £172,800

Bowland Fells
Acres covered: 57,900
Potential number of shooting days: 128
Equivalent number of full time keepers: 17
Employment and ancillary costs: £867,900
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £2,380,800
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £276,480

Nidderdale
Acres covered: 44,850
Potential number of shooting days: 96
Equivalent number of keepers: 13
Employment and ancillary costs: £660,300
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £1,785,600
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £207,360

North Pennines
Acres covered: 227,675
Potential number of shooting days: 528
Equivalent number of keepers: 65
Employment and ancillary costs: £3,387,900
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £9,820,800
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £1,140,480

North Northumberland
Acres covered: 14,800
Potential number of shooting days: 32
Equivalent number of keepers: 4
Employment and ancillary costs: £207,600
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £595,200
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £69,120

North York Moors
Acres covered: 86,500
Potential number of shooting days: 192
Equivalent number of keepers: 25
Employment and ancillary costs: £1,283,100
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £3,571,200
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £414,720

South Pennine
Acres covered: 24,550
Potential number of shooting days: 56
Equivalent number of keepers: 7
Employment and ancillary costs: £363,300
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £1,041,600
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £120,960

Wales
Acres covered: 2,900
Potential number of shooting days: 7
Equivalent number of keepers: 1
Employment and ancillary costs: £50,100
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £130,200
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £18,270

n.b. The heather in Wales has suffered severe overgrazing since the Second World War and the Red Grouse has declined almost to extinction in areas that were previously thriving grouse moors. Work is underway to address the grazing regime with the long term aim of bringing back the moorland mosaic and the bird life that it should support.

Yorkshire Dales
Acres covered: 168,693
Potential number of shooting days: 384
Equivalent number of keepers: 48
Employment and ancillary costs: £2,491,200
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £7,142,400
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £829,440

Total
Acres covered: 702,936
Potential number of shooting days: 1600
Equivalent number of keepers: 201
Employment and ancillary costs: £10 million
Potential revenue ploughed back into land management: £30 million
Visitor expenditure on accommodation and catering: £3 million

*All figures are based on Moorland Association data relating to the moors managed by its members. There is no such thing as an 'average moor' or 'an average shooting season' due to the cyclical nature of the grouse population. These figures have been calculated assuming that the full shooting potential of each moor is reached and let on a commercial basis.

Key Statistics

• One keeper looks after approx. 3500 acres
• Managers aim to hold 16 shootings days per 7000 acres
• The fixed annual cost of running a grouse moor with two keepers is approx. £75000
• Each shooting day costs £1800 to run with 30 beaters and pickers up @ £35 per day per person, nine loaders @ £50 per day and fuel for five vehicles @ £60 per tank.
• Potential revenue from let shooting is £120 per brace with an average of 150 brace shot per day. Birds sold to a game dealer can fetch £4 per brace.
• Visiting guns spend in rural areas per shooting day including: £100 ppn dinner, bed and breakfast (Full party of 9 guns = £1800 including wives or partners), lunch for nine (£20 per head) and further unknown expense on fuel, gun equipment, shopping etc.