Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: Glorious 12th questions...
Not being of the pocket or mindset to be able to travel up for the 12th, I'd be so appreciative if you are gentle with us when you answer these quick questions - those definately in the know:
- Are the Grouse all 100% wild?......I realise its its moors after all? Or are there pens and poults like the rest of us with Phessies/Partridge? And if its a bought in poults business, when abouts are the poults bought in? April, March?
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: glorious 12th
I`ve been following this forum for a while and have enjoyed the discussions and topics discussed. When I saw the above post at first I thought it a joke. Grouse are a truly natural bird. The game keeping aspect is all focused on the management of the moor, burning heather ect, and vermin control. If the birds have a successful breeding season and the predators are under control the grouse are plentiful and the shooting season is successful. If the breeding season co-insides with wet weather the offspring can die with the cold damp weather combined with a parasite that infects them. Often, statistics show several good seasons followed by poor seasons.
The grouse are left alone, not caught up at the end of the shooting, providing breeding stock for the following year. The keepers hoping for clement weather during the hatching and subsequent weeks. Sometimes the weather can be good around the hatching time but then turn later. This also causes problems as the young grouse find it difficult to find shelter under the mother in the wet, as they are too large but small enough to be vulnerable.
We touched on a few other points about Grouse Moor Management on this thread last year, you may find it of interest, and read in conjunction with Pontbecks thread, will give you a better idea of what it's all about.
Thanks Andrew, and thankyou Pontbeck. Around here we simply dont have the suitable land conditions for Grouse, so it's something my dogs have never picked. Like most working gundog people I like my dogs to pick as varied selection of game as possble, but have to be content with Pheasant, Duck (Mallard and Teal) Canada's, a few Red Legs and the odd Snipe. We never shoot more than about 1 Woodcock a year and I never seem to be in the right position for that. (Although Amy has retrieved them still warm.) Although we have plenty of Rabbit and Hare we also have a "No ground game" rule so these go unshot. (Unless I'm out for a wander with the keeper or shoot captain, in which case the will occasionally take one.
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