This year's Glorious Twelfth will be a Glorious Thirteenth

This year's grouse shooting season will not be starting on its traditional date of 12th August, commonly known as 'Glorious Twelfth', as the day falls on a Sunday. Instead, the popular season will commence the following day, Monday 13th August. This is because under the Game Act 1831 England and Wales, it is an offence for any person to kill or take game on a Sunday. While the 181-year ruling doesn't apply in Scotland, it is still customary not to shoot game on Sundays; while in Northern Ireland, the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 prohibits grouse shooting on Sundays. The good news is that the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that shooting will be allowed to take place in foot-and-mouth restricted areas. Without this decision, shooting enthusiasts would have been forced to stay out of the vast majority of grouse moors in the north of England and Scottish Borders. As much as 60% of heather moorland in England and Wales falls within infected areas. This looks set to be a real boost for the sector. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says grouse season will lead to an injection of more than £12.5 million into the English rural upland economy, according to figures released by the Moorland Association. Need help preparing for the new season? John Norris can supply you with a wide range of high quality country clothing and shooting accessories.