Grouse

The 'Glorious Twelfth', August 12th  marks the start of the grouse shooting season. Throughout this period shooters from all over the world head for the moors of Scotland. The season lasts from August 12 to December 10. The grouse are wild and not artificially reared in the moors of  mainly Southern Scotland.  This is a traditional sport which was largely supplanted by formal driven shooting in the mid to late 1800s, but which is seeing a resurgence in popularity, although driven grouse shooting is the only commercially viable means of running a grouse moor. 

Pheasant

Pheasant shooting in The Scottish Borders is a long establish tradition. The season runs from the 1st October to 1st February each year.  Birds will come from local estates that specialize in driven shoots to the local area. Most pheasant is brought in from October to Christmas.  The birds hatch in the early summer and a small percentage survive to adulthood regardless of shooting due to predators and  competition for feed in the winter months.  Well managed shoots can cater to take the surplus birds through to lay eggs the next year.

Partridge

Similar in appearance to the Grouse, this compact, rounded bird is one of the most popular quarries, whether encountered on a rough day or on a formal driven Partridge shoot.  Both Grey partridges, our native species, and Red-legged partridges are reared and released throughout Scotland. This bird is mainly from the lowlands on arable estates however is replacing Grouse in areas where there was traditionally Grouse moor but their number have been reduced.

Wood Pigeon

Wood Pigeons feed on seeds, grain and crops, but will feed on almost anything that is placed on an open space, they also drink a lot, mainly because they do not get sufficient moisture from their food, unlike birds that eat earthworms, etc. At breeding time Wood Pigeon's can be seen displaying: flies upwards, claps its wings, and then glides downwards with its tail spread.  Local pigeon shooting take place all year round

Guinea Fowl

They are a domestic reared bird these are very noisy and look like a bunch of AWOL army helmets as they run across the field. Guineas often lay their eggs out in the fields and hatch their young by themselves. Being native to dry areas of Africa, they are very susceptible to dampness during their first two weeks, and can die from following the mother through dewy grass. After two weeks of age, they are probably the hardiest of all domestic land fowl. Reared in an extensive system and mainly produced for the Summer Autumn and winter european markets. Now however available all year round.

Wild Mallard Duck

This is one of the commonest ducks in Britain. Mallards have a habit of feeding with their tails in the air and their heads under the water. This is called up-ending, or dabbling. You spot on of the many hybrid mallards. They look like a mallard, but with subtle differences. These are the result of years of domestication and cross-breeding. Duck shooting season is form September 1st to January 31st