This afternoon the Scottish Government Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Marie Gougeon made a parliamentary response to the Werritty Report on grouse moor management. The full details can be read here but a licensing scheme will be introduced as well as a statutory ban on burning on peatland and licensing of muirburn regardless of when it takes place and whether it it for grouse moor management or improving grazing. The Scottish Government will produce guidance on best management practices for the use of medicated grit and look at compliance monitoring.
This is very welcome news. It needs to be backed up by a robust, properly monitored licensing scheme with clear penalties based on civil law standards of proof that is in place by the start of the 2021 grouse shooting season. If this happens then life will become a little easier for ALL our wildlife.
Not everyone will be shouting with joy tonight. The Chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (Angus Hogg) has already issued an emotional and angry response to the news and no doubt others in the shooting world will be unhappy. Those who campaigned for a complete ban on Driven Grouse Shooting will probably feel cheated too but both fairness and legal constraints mean that this is as far as legislation can go at this time. Those who adhere to the law have nothing to fear and for them life can carry on much as usual but for those who break the law life is going to become very much harder.
One final point of interest. The announcement on the Scottish Government has the following sub heading: Additional measures to protect birds of prey. You were warned guys but you would not stop.
Wild Mammal Persecution UK 
Don’t know how you managed to predict this one when everyone else was silent but nice one. Why can’t there be a complete ban? That’s what we need
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A complete blanket ban would be unfair to those estates who operate within the law and would also not be possible legally. The legal situation is complex but a blanket ban would certainly be challenged and might even not make it to law. Licensing is the way forward.
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This will not be taken lying down. Packham and the Antis will never win. We are the countryside and you are s***.
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Asterisks inserted due to foul language.
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This will not protect raptors. It will destroy the rural economy, ruin the Scottish countryside that so many people come to visit and ensure that estates move their businesses to more welcoming areas like Yorkshire. The result for Scotland will be lost tourism, lost business and lost jobs. Wildlife will suffer. Waders will become extinct, mountain hares will disappear and the Glorious Twelfth that has been a feature of Scottish life for hundreds of years will become a distant memory. Well done Packham, F***y Avery and Ruth the H**.
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We are not keen on abusive descriptions of others here Mr Science not Packham so we made a minor edit by inserting some asterisks. We also spelled twelfth correctly for you. Two of our members are Scottish and they assure us that the ‘Glorious’ Twelfth (note spelling) has not been around for hundreds of years. As for your other ‘scientific’ claims we have heard them all before and seen them soundly refuted. As an old police sergeant we once knew used to say “If you can’t do the time don’t do the crime”.
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Sounds like you lot are running scared.
The tide and public is turning against you. You are well found out.
God forbid shooting estates have to abide by the law like everyone else.
Wildlife will flourish as victorian destructive practices disappear.
Goodbye.
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