大象传媒

This week鈥檚 programme is all about Grouse and Scotland鈥檚 shooting estates. Grouse shooting is a significant part of Scotland鈥檚 rural economy but it鈥檚 also a controversial use of the land with around two and a half million acres of Scotland鈥檚 heather moorland managed exclusively for Grouse.

Dougie and Sarah are invited along to a friends and family shoot on the Finzean estate in Aberdeenshire. While Sarah hangs out with the shooters, Dougie joins the beaters driving the grouse towards the guns.

Dougie meets Robert Jamieson, the current owner of James Crockart and Son, the business that has been selling guns in Blairgowrie since 1852.

Euan takes 鈥淜ipper 鈥� 鈥� a Labrador belonging to Landward鈥檚 Executive Producer 鈥� for a lesson with professional Gundog trainer, 聽Chairlie Thorburn.

Over the last two centuries management for grouse has shaped much of the Scottish landscape. This can encourage other moorland species but it can also bring estate managers into conflict with birds of prey and other predators. Gamekeepers in Scotland operate under a general license that allows them to control some predators like crows and foxes. But they are not allowed to kill birds of prey. Euan meets Robbie Kernahan from Scottish Natural Heritage to discuss the legislation that has provided new powers for the punishment of landowners where birds of prey have been poisoned.

After a day on the Finzean Grouse moor, Dougie takes a brace into the estate kitchen where Nick prepares 聽a delicious dish with the freshly shot game birds.