The BBC's Sarah Boxall reports on the businesses that are looking forward to the profits from selling grouse this year

Shooting enthusiasts were predicting a disappointing day as many moors abandoned shoots because of the sharp drop in the numbers of birds.

Stephen Lea of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says: "Prospects are very poor indeed. I don't know of an estate that is shooting today."

Only one or two grouse moors in Scotland were likely to start shooting on Thursday, the first day of the season, while others were delaying until later this month.

The decline in numbers of grouse has caused controversy in the run-up to the big day.

Anti-blood sport groups have blamed the hunters for the decline, but they in turn have blamed the weather.

Wesley Stanton, from the pro-hunting group Foresight, said the decline in game was due to the weather and the unstable environmental conditions, which in turn have brought diseases that have killed hundreds of grouse.

In many moorland areas of Scotland and Wales, large numbers of grouse have died after eating heather infected by a parasitic worm.

The microscopic killer has enjoyed a mild, wet winter and has thrived on moorland heather, one of the grouse's staple foods.

Improving the image of shooting

Stung by accusations that they are to blame for the decline, the shooting lobby has taken out advertisements in national newspapers, in an attempt to improve its image.

The Campaign for Shooting says it is not being given a fair hearing by the government or the public and wants to present people with "the facts".

John Swift: "We're taking this seriously"

John Swift, chief executive of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the economic and job benefits associated with the sport were essential to the rural economy.

Experts warn that many moors are on the threshold of a decline and this season will be worse than last year.

Charges of posing a threat to the grouse population have now been laid at the door of ramblers.

The government is proposing giving public access to millions of acres of countryside. Some landowners say this will lead to ramblers trampling on the nests of wildlife.

Demand on the increase

But Dave Morris from the Ramblers Association dismissed the claims, and told the BBC scientific research had showed that climate and the way in which moorland is managed is the threat, not public access.

The sport, which was once associated with the aristocracy has long been an emotive issue, but the Countryside Alliance says the demand for grouse in on the increase.

The scarcity of the bird is likely to lead to high prices in supermarkets and restaurants.

Tom Lewis, regional director of the Countryside Alliance, says the rise in demand is down to a number of reasons.

First, the BSE crisis has prompted people to turn to a "wild and natural crop" and second because people are discovering it is relatively fat free.

Hunt saboteurs have threatened to protest outside London's Savoy Hotel, as the annual race begins to get the first birds of the season to the table.