Can we save these birds from oblivion?

It was recently put to me that without grouse shooting in the UK, red grouse would soon be gone. To the average member of the public this defies reason, but within the shooting community we are well aware that shooting and conservation often — if not always — go hand in hand.

In an era of increasing pressure on many traditional gamebirds — grey partridge and capercaillie spring immediately to mind —sharp focus inevitably falls on the conservation and survival of these species. But against the backdrop of a rapidly changing landscape and increasingly unfriendly politics, what role does shooting have in the future of these birds?

Although poorly managed shooting can place pressure on bird numbers, this pales into insignificance when compared with the effects of habitat loss. In the lowlands, the demise of the small mixed farm, combined with the industrialisation of the