grouse

It described the deaths as a “national disgrace” and blamed the majority of incidents on rogue gamekeepers trying to protect stocks of pheasant, partridge and grouse on countryside shooting estates.

The organisation said that was because gamekeepers are trying to protect their grouse, pheasants and partridge - and the profits they bring.

The organisation is now calling for all the UK’s devolved nations to follow Scotland’s example and bring in licensing for grouse moor estates.

"Unfortunately we do not have that in the rest of the UK. We need to see wider licensing particularly for grouse moors in England and pheasant and partridge shooting in the lowlands of the UK."

It is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, and ponies.