The sound of gunshot will have been echoing across the moorlands on the "Glorious Twelfth" – the start of the annual grouse shooting season on August 12 and lasting through to December 10.

The sound of gunshot will have been echoing across the moorlands on the "Glorious Twelfth" – the start of the annual grouse shooting season on August 12 and lasting through to December 10. Managing the "Glorious Twelfth" originated in 1773 when a shooting law was introduced to restrict when one could and could not hunt or even buy game. The biggest growth in grouse hunting came about during WWII and through the 1950s. With food supplies cut off because of attacks on shipping, the UK's food imports dropped from pre-war fifty-five million tons to barely twelve million tons by the end of 1939, barely enough to feed the nation. Even today in the 21st century, shot birds often end up in restaurants, butchers' shelves, and supermarkets. So, what impact and benefits does grouse shooting have on today's economy and where do the royals fit in? For the protection of the land, shooting provides essential income for the Moorlands Association. It is responsible for over 1,500 jobs in the heart of the countryside and even in a successful season, shooting usually stops well before the official end date of 10 December with every day contributing to a boost in the economy. Businesses associated with grouse shooting benefit by over $38 million a year. Included are game dealers, accommodation, equipment suppliers, catering and transport operators in remote rural locations who depend on grouse shooting as the main source of income outside of the tourist season. Grouse moors in England, for example, supports two thousand jobs - to those directly involved with grouse moor management and others in related services and industries. While in Scotland there are more than 2,500 full time jobs allied with shooting contributing over $37 million to the Scottish economy. ‌While hunting in the UK is not against the law it is sometimes considered a necessity.