ALL grouse moors in Teesdale were able to host shoots this year.
A wet spring in 2018 killed many of the grouse chicks meaning that a majority of the moors in the dale went without shoots last year.
However, the National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO) reports a better spring this time round saw numbers increase enough to allow each estate to organise at least one shoot.
Tina Brough, of the Staindrop-based NGO, said: “We haven’t had a great season. Each estate has had a shoot but nowhere near the full catalogue they have had in the past.
“They [estate gamekeepers] will have done grouse counts and they will only shoot the surplus.”
She added that with a full complement of breeding stock the prospects were looking better for 2020.
Ms Brough said: “They have had a decent year and with the right weather this spring, hopefully they will have a better season next year.”
Grouse moors across the county border proved more successful with the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group (YDMG) reporting 500 driven days across the 25 estates it represents.
Sonya Wiggins, co-ordinator of the YDMG, said: “Our moorlands matter and they have been in hot demand.
“We welcomed a good influx of international visitors from across Europe and the US, as well as a lot of repeat bookings from UK-wide parties to the Yorkshire Dales who continue to enjoy the sport we have to offer and our beautiful countryside.
“These visitors are a vital boost to the local economy supporting rural businesses during the tourism off-season.”
Andrew Dent, of L&A Gamedealers, reported a varied season across the country.
He said: “Coming off the back of a poor season in terms of grouse numbers in 2018, we have witnessed a slight rise in the amount of wild red grouse for the plate this year and are up around 20 per cent on business.
“However, it was a bit of a mixed bag, one moor broke its all-time record whilst some moors had no shooting at all.”
