Shooting Times Country – 26 August 2026

Summary

The GWCT has expanded its Maternal Grouse Project into the Scottish Highlands — the most ambitious study of red grouse ever undertaken — as the lead science story in Shooting Times & Country's August 26, 2026 issue, priced at £4.50. The cover tests the Mossberg 940 Pro Field semi-auto shotgun, described as at home in clays, wildfowl and pigeon shooting, with a 3-shot 12-gauge capacity and up to 1,500 rounds between cleaning. For readers who follow grouse-moor science, gamebird health and shooting-sport access disputes, this issue delivers research depth alongside field news.

The grouse study reports that in March, 60 hens were radio-tagged in the North Pennines (four long-term study sites) and 51 more in four new Highland sites. Spring paired counts dropped 40% in England and 34% in Scotland; summer brood counts dropped a further 36% and 29%. The project combines 45 years of standardised spring and summer counts with new GPS tracking and rainfall recording. Pen management research finds antibiotic use has fallen 48% since 2016 but rose 5% in 2024 to 10.3 tonnes of active ingredient. A Glen Lyon dispute tests whether a stalking estate can close 2,600 hectares of hill for two months (September and October) under the 2003 Land Reform Act.

Other news: Rare gundog breed show at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire on 15 August drew 420 dogs from 38 vulnerable British and Irish native breeds. Environmental activists set up a six-day camp on Peak District moorland from 12-17 August. The Countryside Alliance took the BBC to task over a Radio 4 Today programme on 13 August that turned a defence of moorland management into a criticism.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Shotguns

p. · Mossberg 940 Pro Field
The 940 Pro Field is a 3-shot, 12-gauge semi-auto with a drilled and tapped receiver, adjustable length of pull, drop and cast, front fibre-optic sight, oversized bolt handle, and ambidextrous top-mounted safety. The new gas-vent system allows up to 1,500 rounds between cleaning. Shooters who clean infrequently should note the 1,500-round maintenance window as a genuine time-saving advantage over traditional gas-operated shotguns.

▸ Science / Grouse

p. · Landmark Study Asks Why Grouse Decline
The GWCT expanded its Maternal Grouse Project into the Scottish Highlands, radio-tagging 60 hens in the North Pennines (March) and 51 in four new Highland sites. English spring paired counts: down 40%. Scottish: down 34%. Summer brood counts: England down 36%, Scotland down 29%. The project combines 45 years of standardised data with temperature loggers in grouse nests and GPS rainfall recording. Moorland managers should note that the project's goal is to identify specific factors limiting breeding success and translate findings into practical guides.

▸ Health / Gamebirds

p. · Pen Management Holds the Key to Antibiotic Use
Antibiotic use in gamebirds has fallen 48% since 2016 but rose 5% in 2024 to 10.3 tonnes of active ingredient, missing the 2019-2024 40% reduction target. Alex Keeble of the GWCT says self-regulation is where the sector is heading. A North Wales shoot redesigned its release pens to roughly one-third open ground, one-third low cover and one-third mid-level perches using triticale, chicory and reed canary grass. Shoot managers should audit their pen design against the GWCT's structural recommendations.

▸ Legal / Access

p. · Two-Month Hill Ban Puts Stalking on Trial
North Chesthill Estate in Glen Lyon, Perthshire, has restricted access to 2,600 hectares of hill for September and October during the stalking season. Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy is challenging the move under the 2003 Land Reform Act. Perth and Kinross Council says any blanket closure of access rights is unlawful. Land managers considering seasonal closures should seek legal advice on the 2003 Act's provisions before restricting hill access.

▸ News

p. · Rare Gundogs Take the Ring
Over 420 dogs from all 38 vulnerable British and Irish native breeds gathered at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, on 15 August. Breeds with fewer than 300 registered puppies annually are classified as vulnerable. The Sussex spaniel was among the breeds represented.

▸ News

p. · Activists Camp on Parched Peak District Grouse Moor
Several hundred environmental activists from Earth First! set up a six-day camp on Moscar Estate in the Peak District from 12-17 August at the height of wildfire season, according to the Campaign for the Protection of Moorland Communities.

▸ News

p. · Alliance Takes BBC to Task
The Countryside Alliance challenged a BBC Radio 4 Today programme on 13 August that the Alliance says turned a defence of moorland management into a criticism. Moorland Association CEO Andrew Giltruth requested a clarification.

▸ Regulars

p. · Managing Editor's Leader — "Seasons of Plenty" by Martin Puddifer
p. · Dog of the Week
p. · New Guns & Gear
p. · Ask the Experts
p. · Subscription Offer

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Editor's Take

A research-heavy issue that delivers genuine scientific depth. The GWCT grouse study is the standout — 111 tagged hens across England and Scotland, 45 years of comparative data, and specific spring/brood count percentages make it a data-rich read. The antibiotic-use feature with its 48% reduction and 10.3-tonne figure is equally substantive. Weaknesses: the Mossberg 940 Pro Field cover story reads as manufacturer specifications rather than an independent field test, and the Glen Lyon access piece is truncated. Best for moorland managers, GWCT members and game farmers tracking grouse science and antibiotic policy.

Strengths
• GWCT grouse study provides 111-hen sample, 40%/34% spring decline and 36%/29% brood decline data
• Antibiotic feature gives 48% reduction since 2016 and 10.3-tonne 2024 usage figures
• Rare gundog show gives 420-dog attendance and 38-breed vulnerable-breed count

Weaknesses
• Mossberg 940 Pro Field cover story is spec-sheet, not independent review
• Glen Lyon access-rights dispute article is truncated before conclusion

Verdict: Recommended — The GWCT grouse science and antibiotic-use data make this essential for game managers and conservation researchers.