The major contribution of grouse shooting and moorland management to the economy, jobs, and wildlife conservation has been recognised by rural communities, as the season got underway today in the Angus Glens.

The Glorious 12^th marks the start of the grouse shooting season, which boosts the economy by £32m each year, part of the £155m overall value of country sports to Scotland.

Sporting shooting supports 11,000 full time jobs in Scotland, of which 2,640 are in the grouse sector.

Research commissioned by the Scottish Government and published in 2020 also demonstrated that driven grouse shooting generates the highest number of jobs per hectare when set alongside other comparable land uses, as well as generating among the highest levels of local and regional spending.

A new report published by the Angus Glens Moorland Group and Scottish Land & Estates last week revealed for the first time the economic, social and environmental benefits provided by estates in the Angus Glens, with seven estates providing detailed data for the year 2025.

Their annual expenditure of £6.6m included £3.66m on wages, supporting 86 full-time equivalent jobs and 768 seasonal workers.

In addition £2.94m is spent on goods and services – of which 82.5% is retained in the local economy, helping to sustain local businesses and a skills base on which communities depend.

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland and Strategic Projects for Scottish Land & Estates said: “The grouse shooting season is a major contributor to the rural economy. Year-round expenditure by estates supports hundreds of jobs and helps ensure the viability of local businesses.

“The evidence is clear: moorland management and grouse shooting deliver decisive benefits for the Angus Glens and upland areas across Scotland – supporting people in work, keeping money in the local economy, sustaining rural skills and helping conserve the landscapes and wildlife that make these places special.”

Steve Mitchell of Maryton Garage near Kirriemuir said: “The estates here are fantastic for the area, loads of local businesses benefit. We service all the estate vehicles, the gamekeepers’ vehicles and 4x4s for guests who come for the shooting season. It’s a big part of our business.”

Les Gammie, Depot Manager for Gammie’s Groundcare in Forfar said: “We supply a significant number of the estates in the Angus Glens. It is beneficial for the economy of the region that the estates support local businesses and as a large part of our customer base, they are a major financial contributor to our business.”

Stewart Penny, one of the guns shooting in the Angus Glens today, said: “It is wonderful to be out on such a glorious day in glorious surroundings on the Glorious Twelfth.

“It is a true honour to be able to respect the tradition of marking the opening day of the grouse season. A huge effort has gone into creating this mosaic of habitat and continuing this is key to all the upland wildlife, not just grouse. Sometimes there is a surplus of grouse, sometimes there is not – but the work still needs to be done.

“Without the efforts of Scotland’s estates and gamekeepers, the Scottish Uplands would not be as beautiful as they are.”

Martin Taylor, a head gamekeeper and member of the Angus Glens Moorland Group, said: “Despite having a limited grouse harvest on this estate this year, we continue to invest in moorland management to promote biodiversity. Moorland estates remain a big employer in the area, creating a rural community to be rivalled in most urban settings.

“A true measure of the quality of our hill is the wildlife. Our eagles have once again successfully fledged another two chicks, taking their brood to eight youngsters over their five years with us.

“Their continued success is, however, threatened. If you harm an eagle, or interfere with its nest, you will rightly be prosecuted. If you remove its habitat and food source by planting trees, you get a grant to do so.

“Large areas of Angus are planned to be transformed from well manged vibrant healthy open hill into a massive fuel source for wildfire. And, in doing so, these projects remove the hunting ground for many raptors which thrive on managed moorlands. It is vitally important that policy decisions recognise the value of these internationally rare habitats and protect them for future generations.”

Traditional country sports are also an asset for Scotland’s tourism sector, attracting visitors to the uplands.

Ritu Dutt, Owner of the Glenesk Country House Hotel & Spa, said: “Our beautiful local grouse moors provide additional business for hotels and restaurants from 12th August through the autumn.

“Sporting tourism brings people to the Angus Glens from all over the UK, Europe and North America, which provides a boost to our restaurant and room bookings and to the local economy. It is great to see the buzz in the area when the season gets under way.”

During the 2025 season, there were 84 grouse shooting days in the Angus Glens alone. On average 54 people are required per shoot day per estate, reflecting the significant seasonal employment opportunities generated by the sporting season, in addition to the full-time roles supported by estates.

The full report, Moorland Management in the Angus Glens, Economic Environmental and Social Impacts from 2025, and the Executive Summary are available on Scottish Land & Estates’ website: https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/moorland-management-angus-glens-economic-environmental-and-social-impacts-2025