Lettings, Legislation, and Looking Ahead
Ollie Severn looks at the Shooting Industry and how much the landscape has changed in recent years.
It is fair to say that gauging the health of the Shooting Industry is no straightforward task. What we can say with confidence is that the landscape has changed markedly in recent years. The days of Shoots being fully let year after year to long-standing teams, what many fondly referred to as “Dead Men’s Shoot”, are for the most part, behind us. A combination of rising input costs, ongoing economic uncertainty, bird flu, and wider geopolitical pressures have all taken their toll on demand. That said, the outlook is far from bleak.
This year’s early-season lettings were encouraging, with strong activity in January and February, a trend that now seems to be the new norm. These early bookings were vital in helping many Shoots secure the working capital needed to commit to the coming season. Whilst enquiries have levelled off since, this follows a familiar seasonal rhythm. A number of Shoots still have dates to fill, but overall, sentiment is more buoyant than in recent years. This is likely due in part to supply and demand beginning to rebalance.
At William Powell Sporting, we are fortunate to work closely with our sister company, JM Osborne Rural & Sporting, widely regarded as a leading specialist in the management and consultancy of some of the UK’s finest Sporting Estates, including many of the best-known Grouse Moors. This relationship gives us a uniquely informed perspective on the broader shooting landscape, both on and off the ground.
Naturally, one of the questions we’re asked most often, perhaps because of this link, is about the state of the Moors. As ever, it is too early to tell definitively. Grouse numbers are almost impossible to predict until late July when brood counts are complete. That said, the spring was overall relatively kind, and while regional variation is to be expected, there are good reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Should we enjoy another similarly favourable spring next year, we may well be on for a very good 2026!
A major challenge this year has been the impact of the revocation of GL45. For Shoots located on or within 500 metres of SPAs (Special Protection Areas), the consequences have been significant, forcing some to completely alter their model, and in a few cases, to close altogether. The ongoing work of our representative shooting organisations on this matter has been invaluable and deserves recognition from us all.
More positively, we are continuing to see the return of international teams, particularly from the US, which is always most welcome. Interest in overseas sport remains strong and seems increasingly driven by the pursuit of experience-led trips rather than the larger driven days typical of the UK. El Koudia in Morocco has firmly cemented its position as a client favourite, and with demand high, we look forward to almost weekly visits in the season ahead.
We hope this has provided a useful overview of where things currently stand.
As ever, whether you’re looking to shoot in the UK or abroad, we would be delighted to assist, email: info@williampowellsporting.com or call: 01295 661033.
Article written by Ollie Severn
