Interview with the Grouse Moor Employee

Chris Packham interviews a grouse moor employee to discover what really goes on behind the heather. An actor is used to protect the identity of the interviewee - but reads directly from a transcript so the conversation is fully accurate.

[@christinewilliams1234]

Shocking!! Thank you so much Chris for bringing this to the public's attention. I sincerely hope the Police Wildlife Crime Officers take action!!

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

Bah

[@rockdrigo6106]

Es la que es acá aentro po, yo afuera puro cando ziiii ¡¡ Buena entrevista Don Pecos ¡¡

[@Wolverineverminshooting]

What people don't understand is if it wasn't for game keepers, you wouldn't see any game birds in the countryside because they have too many predators to breed in the wild

[@volvos70t51]

but haven't these so called 'game birds' been around naturally for hundreds of thousands of years?........aren't they just introduced in large numbers to make money for shooting?........maybe they shouldn't be there for the shoot?......maybe 'we' shouldn't be there too?.........look, i'm not some delusional tree hugging cry baby fuck piece, but I do love a drop of nature and it's going out of fashion quickly!!!!, if you feed small birds in your garden then the Sparrowhawks (predators) come, it's how nature works, these enormous Grouse moors are a HUGE version of a back garden........predators always under number the prey (that's also how nature works)......unless we start fucking with it, then imbalance occurs...........so we must find a balance between Grouse moors and persecuting predatory birds.......what do you think can be done to achieve this?, do you agree, disagree or indifferent?

[@martyfeldman3269]

S ...Absolutely spot on ! Everywhere on the British isles is managed until it squeaks and it’s become so sterile. Except military land where wildlife and some semblance of natural balance thrives. I live in the middle of a hunty, shooty, fishy, place where people think the countryside is nature and anything not on the list of acceptable creatures is not nature and must go. Absolutely infuriates me. A few years ago the wild boar tried to make a comeback, but not now, they all “mysteriously” disappeared again.

[@jamesmacdonald2337]

This guy could be anyone saying anything he’s been told to say ???

[@sheldream981]

The RSPB cannot campaign against shooting of game birds because its Royal Charter explicitly forbids it. Just think about that for a moment,

[@wibble1999]

This is why they are linked together in a gang with Gove who gad plans for countryside management post brexit. This is all smoke and mirrirs to say " system is broke" and implement changes frim iur oh so fanastic and well rounded govt. Its not true... has no evidence... its known antagonists... they are being used.

[@Ptarmi]

As someone who worked for a few years as a full-time Gamekeeper in the 1970s & then in Pest Control for a number of years in the 1980s, this interview certainly rings true. ... It is very sad to hear that today, nearly 50 years on, attitudes towards Birds of Prey on shooting estates just haven't changed. ... I sincerely hope that, once introduced, the new Licence System can bring about the necessary change, which is clearly required on these estates, to ensure that Scotland's magnificent Birds of Prey really do have a future in their native habitat, our Scottish Moors.

[@markharris5771]

The problem is the shooting fraternity, and others with a vested interest, will just accuse you of lying. Then they will say the gamekeepers are doing more for the environment than all the campaigners put together. There are good gamekeepers without a doubt, but it only takes the odd one as in the Trough of Bowland and an animal is on the verge of extinction in this country. It’s time we all stood and say this is unacceptable, and put pressure on the MPs and make them realise their jobs are at stake.

[@elliotcross2530]

you are gay

[@markharris5771]

elliot cross Do you always do strange things like ask strangers their sexuality? If you’re after a date this isn’t the best way of going about it. Have you tried some of the gay dating sites?

[@uplandknight5782]

what fraternity do you belong to Mark?? The Pussified Man;s frat? Or i"I have a Mangina" frat? Both perhaps?? lol You are a real ignorant little tiny man

[@wibble1999]

I mean why kill animals... buy your meat from supermarkets like civilised people then no animals need die. Lol i bet you voted remain so britain can remain multicutural.... wake up pratt. Stop listening to propoganda ...brutain has always been multicural and doesnt need eu for that. British countryside needs managing.... or do we let ut all grow wild and allow market atural forces to rule. Outcome would see wildlife decimated on a scale that would make us cry. Grow up and stop acting like a 5 year old

[@martyfeldman3269]

DaveMac...No ! We don’t over manage every last inch of the place. We keep some land for woodland and leave it the fuck alone, we keep some moorland to go wild and leave that the fuck alone. JUST STOP KILLING EVERYTHING !!!!

[@Zionist-Created-Migrant-Crisis]

I was a beater on several Northumberland and Teesdale moors.. and I could tell you some things that would blow your mind.. Seriously, I only did the job out of desperation to feed my family.. but the £40 pittance we were paid and the way we were treated was terrible.. But even worse, the cruelty that witnessed was far worse than I expected.. Absolutely disgusting ! Yet these ultra wealthy murderers look down their noses at us " useless eaters ".. but they are the real evil people !

[@eliza4tony]

Thank you Chris.

[@Morayfirth1980s]

Wow he's wearing a flat cap must be a game keeper 😂😂 If your taken in by this you will believe anything.

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

Presisely 👍

[@Zionist-Created-Migrant-Crisis]

@@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking Elvis ? .. oh you meant to say precisely, as in exactly or i agree ?

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

@@Zionist-Created-Migrant-Crisis I agree with what tomotway3188 said

[@Zionist-Created-Migrant-Crisis]

It was made clear that this was an actor who replicated the actual Gamekeeper who reported what he had experienced.. so maybe that particular Keeper had originally worn a flatcap in the original candid interview.. because we all know that most Keepers are required to dress in the matching tweed breeks, waistcoat, jacket and flatcap / Deerstalker that the Estate requires them to wear.. especially on a shoot day when the Lords and money folk come for a days shooting. I was a beater for around 20 years and make no mistake, there are certain Keepers who are known to have a reputation of keeping Grouse numbers high by exterminating or poisoning anything with fur or feathers that pose a threat to their Grouse.. On one of the estates where I worked, there was a Head Keeper who was moved onto another job because he wasn't prepared to kill birds of prey, so he was replaced with another bloke who had a reputation of using naive young trainee underkeepers to do his dirty work.. This is 100% fact. I absolutely detest these ultra wealthy pigs who go out act all manly and tough because they have a Shotgun that gives them a feeling of power.. but killing birds is not really a manly thing to do is it ?? And thing I detest mostly about these pigs is the fact that they have all these grovellers around them, the loaders and the ones who run around picking the birds up.. But if these grovellers were burning in the street, the rich pigs wouldn't even p*ss on them..

[@dewijones92]

Thanks Chris for this

[@shakeybeatz]

Thanks Chris. What about goshawks? i had the pleasure of spotting a pair of goshawk breeding a local woodland recently, unfortunately on the third visit the gamekeepers were out shooting and i haven't seen them since. I'm assuming they were a threat to the grouse and pheasants.

[@niallhaigh5793]

Hes definitely not a keeper 😂😂

[@deanjohnwilliamson4787]

Back it up???

[@delhogg5380]

The wolf???ffs that was a long time ago!!

[@martyfeldman3269]

Oh yeah they just died for no reason. And I think he’s talking about the estates in Europe that also employ British keepers, and British estates that employ European keepers.

[@WonHyo69]

Thank you for posting this Chris. I never know whether to give a thumbs up or thumbs down for these posts. It gives us some idea as how the rapter persecution is carried out and the economic forces behind it.

[@TheThunderbird885]

This man is no more a gamekeeper than the man in the moon he doesn't even use the right language. I hope the transcript has been handed to the police so they can take the appropriate action on its claims and if not why not?

[@greyandblue4323]

Surely you aren't implying that all gamekeepers are stupid ? I know several and they are intelligent and very articulate.

[@Ptarmi]

As a former Keeper myself, it is very depressing to hear that, despite all the protestations from apologists, very little has changed since my time working under an English head Keeper, when I was schooled in the use of & yes, expected to use, Pole Traps, Gin Traps & the illegal use of poison baits. Clearly, change will never ever come from within the industry, so it will have to be imposed from outside., sooner rather than later.

[@TheThunderbird885]

Never used any of those in 30 years of keeping to control losses from raptors and don't know any other keepers who do anymore there is no need to there are plenty of non lethal methods you can use.

[@wibble1999]

@@greyandblue4323 agreed. most are clever good guys and great integrity

[@non-masturbatingtyrannosau3476]

Oh look an actor acting, yep I 100% trust him

[@non-masturbatingtyrannosau3476]

Pitty you and your brethren don't speak up when gamekeepers and moors employees save acres of moors from fires

[@marcusmason3440]

More lies.......

[@shaunpreston2839]

I used to know Chris he was a year older than me but used to often ask me about wild life we went to the same school I went on to be a gamekeeper! I had a sparrowhawk and he had a kestrel! His lucky break was when he cheated in a top wildlife photo competition! He does talk some sense and some shite the same at school! Just for the record I never have or never would shoot a bird off prey!

[@TheKevzx6r]

All the keepers in the comments in complete denial. Fucking chocolates, these sick gamies are killing everything. I know some of them and know it's true.

[@paul1720]

He's just confirming what everyone else knew. Ban this disgraceful practice.

[@malkempsonshooting]

I totaly agree, stop making these jackanory story made up interviews. utter bull s**t.

[@Ptarmi]

Truth hurts, doesn't it!

[@greyandblue4323]

Do you not see how utterly infantile that comment is,......''I dont like what you say and so it must be made up.'' Your hobby is destined to be just an unpleasant memory and it wont be a second too soon.

[@Andy_Wills]

Why can’t you face facts.... Packham is a puppet master and you the puppet..... He’s a liar and been caught as a liar.... the so called keeper is an actor.

[@greyandblue4323]

:D Yes it's an actor, he is reading a verifiable transcript from a former gamekeeper who for his own reasons felt he couldn't appear in person. CP is a person of integrity and continually trying to rubbish his character and calling him a liar wont wash. Face those few facts maybe.

[@andobreslin8735]

This won't change under a Tory Government. It's never mentioned, but it's clearly well known. Turning a blind eye is the central core of what the Tories stand for...If it's to do with wealth & the 'Establishment' of course.

[@WildlifeBirdsUK]

Thanks for this interview Chris and all you do against Driven Grouse Shooting. National Agents involved alongside Keepers and farmers all destroying many species of birds and wildlife, as well as the Hen Harriers of course. (HH get another kick) I'll not add a War & Peace length post on what we all know.. just that the shooting fraternity seem to have everyone pandering to their every whim... anyone would think that there's hardly a decent non birder out there who cannot be 'bought' with either cash or gifts. To a large degree (aside from doing their job) that's what it comes down to. I'm sure in the next few years we will have some concessions aiming to the one we all want and that is an outright BAN on DGS. If fox hunting can be *cough cough* stopped (legally anyway) then so can DGS.

[@uplandknight5782]

STFU you pussy!!!! You point fingers as you get in your car...turn on your a/c....but products and throw away tonnes of garbage. You are the hypocrites hypocrite you all those fuking tards like you

[@martyfeldman3269]

Upland Knight..calm down on the drugs you utter nutcase.

[@chard211054]

Whilst I have no doubt that the content is true, I don't see the point in using an actor. It just invites the inevitable ridicule from the shooting fraternity, who will dismiss this as a fictional piece of propaganda. Won't carry a lot of weight where it matters, unfortunately.

[@syednadal9142]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you are all also on KZbin

[@normanmurray3659]

What a load of bullshit,is he a keeper or an anti he has so much wrong and he keeps been Led by Chris,the mountain hares put the clappers on what he was saying or led to say,the only places I have seen mountain hares wiped out were in forestry ground and RSPB ground where they were planting trees,an set up if ever i seen one.

[@PNEKarl]

I'm sick of this. I'm going back back to my childhood. I'm going to watch 'Kes'. My favourite film, just like Karl Pilkington.

[@blackbob3358]

vested interest. that's it. they will kill anything that moves....... and then the "game birds". ...and then, silence.

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

Rubbish 👎

[@michaelnewman8060]

What a load of old cobblers. Leading questions, hearsay evidence... And why is the ACTORS face hidden. Is he too embarresed to be associated with this tosh?

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

Probably 😂

[@tombaker-cresswell3583]

This is not a balanced view. Get someone who has the opposite opinion to speak aswell and make it more legitimate.

[@grahamshepherd5282]

It is nothing to do with view or opinion, it is a man stating some facts. An alternative argument would be to deny these facts, whereas prosecutions, videos, admissions etc. are available for all to see. If 2+2=4 you don't have to go out and find someone who says it makes 5.

[@wibble1999]

@@grahamshepherd5282 if your saying this man ( we assume man as hes hidind ) is stating facts... you are very VERY much mistaken . Its hearsay. Written doen its fit for a nail in the smallest room of the house. Now had he a proper piece of evidence...that could be examined..substantiated....then we can talk. Do you honestly believe becsuse someone shoots they suspend all morals?. That becayse we own n shoot guns we beat our dog wife kids.... wed happily torture an animal for a couple of quid??... get him campaigning against halal butchery and hell get my vote otherwise my opinion stands. Hes grandstanding with fake evidence for an agenda and nit the ine hes selling on the face of it

[@paulhargreaves5176]

Is it luke steel lies damned lies

[@jimwheeler288]

This sad person believes himself! Never heard such ridiculous waffle.

[@Brucey865]

Firstly he works for the BBC and has his own agenda not for the benefit of wildlife. Also we can just sit back and appreciate that RSPB has had terrible success with hen harriers in comparison to flourishing numbers on grouse moors!!

[@MartinWildlife]

The RSPB has had terrible success because they believed the grouse shooters when they said they'd clean up their act, which they've totally failed to do.

[@Brucey865]

@@MartinWildlife this a joke or?

[@MartinWildlife]

@@Brucey865 RSPB were working with grouse moor owners to clean up their act and stop shooting raptors. They failed to do this, so there are fewer raptors to colonise other areas. There should be 300 breeding pairs of hen harriers in the UK, but there aren't because so many are shot.

[@Brucey865]

@@MartinWildlife you do realise grouse moors have the best success rate for successful hen harrier nests. Not the RSPB but the gamekeepers. You can spin whatever story you wish but the fact of the matter is managed moors are better managed than RSPB. We still have a couple of bad eggs but 99% of grouse keepers tow the line and do real conservation work!

[@MartinWildlife]

@@Brucey865 the problem is that that small number of keepers who persecute raptors is enough to keep the populations low. Surely it's time the gamekeeping profession did something about it?

[@jamesgalloway6136]

This guys not a keeper

[@georgeallan5648]

He must be a keeper ! He has a flat cap on ?..........What a load of rubbish !

[@andrewcorry2251]

Haha I was thinking the same thing.. if your speaking out show your face. Stand up for what you belive in . Just a load of shite otherwise

[@robertwilkinson7437]

If you look at the lighting, it's different on alternate shots. This is another giveaway that you're being drip fed a load of bull

[@pessimistprime4877]

In Ireland we almost no commercial hunting and so all land is ploughed and grazed...with almost No exceptions. Any part of Britain has far more wildlife compared with most countries in Europe. Northern Britain is the world capital of wildlife! Every farm has a dedicated habitat. If they lose the incentive to maintain these habitats, all of rural Britain will suffer. So to the keyboard conservationists and urbanite activists... Are you willing to accept the responsibility and burden of habitat management if commercial hunting was banned? It's a 365 days per year, all weathers and no guarantees of a wage kind of job!

[@SuperJammygit]

You have know idea what you have done, our nesting song birds will be devastated, that's a fact ,

[@samhancock268]

I'm not anti hunt. I hunt myself but this statement is simply not true. The main contributor to the fall in song bird numbers is HUMAN ACTIVITY. The loss of woodland due to agriculture and the use of pesticides has dented songbird populations more than corvids ever could have. Humans kill far more songbirds than corvids.

[@darcyblack8222]

Corvids do not kill songbirds I live with both in ten years nothing of that but domestic pest cats that people left feral unneutered slaughtered every songbird and duck should we petition for a shooting of domestic cats or the people who own them? Or shall we say human is at fault for building motorways through a habitat that kills everything that’s the best option

[@thomaswhitney6498]

@@darcyblack8222 corvids don't kill song birds? If your stupid enough to post such ridiculous comments on similarly ridiculous videos... Then atleast try to be clever enough to watch atleast 1 of the videos on KZbin showing corvids doing exactly that

[@daleglen8840]

'Grouse moor employee'. Not a grouse keeper then. A 'moor employee'.

[@pessimistprime4877]

Dale Glen there is an awful smell of shit from this interview... Actually, there is an awful smell is of Packham from this interview, in fact it's a big ol steaming pile of Packham!

[@nl4064]

almost every keepr I spoke to told me they have eradicated adders from their beats. millions of ha devoid of adders due to these idiots. Keepers have been told to get rid of it by their owners and many keepers have a commission on grouse kills

[@mikebagnallshooting9818]

Packham to be sacked help us get him of the tv

[@stevensmith3069]

What a muppet

[@martyfeldman3269]

No , muppets were eradicated decades ago.

[@danielbarrett9396]

I didn’t know we now had smell o vision I smell serious amounts of animal dung..... particularly from a bull

[@davidsmith1506]

To be honest, that smell is probably coming from yourself.

[@chantellerosebud1780]

Good man, Chris. Keep the pressure on for change. These practices are outdated and ecologically unsustainable. Keep exposing the truth, keep campaigning 👍

[@BSA-AirRifle-Plinking]

A matter of opinion

[@chickpea1723]

I love Chris Packham he’s awesome

[@colincassie1]

Total bollocks. This is totally fabricated start to finish. I challenge Mr Packham to tell everyone what he really thinks would happen if all game keeping and livestock farming was to stop. What do you honestly think would be the state of the British countryside in years to come. How many ground nesting birds and hedgehogs would be alive if not one more fox was shot.You really don't know anything about countryside management. Absolute ignorance

[@katrinafarmer207]

Money is God to some.misery doesn't matter.

[@wibble1999]

What misery?... what money? Such a sweeping powerful statement needs substance. You seen animals hunt prey??... you seen wounded aninals whove escaped a predator die in agony??.... no farmer no hunter is the animal you paint them as. Take your head from up your seating arrangements ( arse in case youre as thick as you come across) and find out the truth before making such statements.

[@delhogg5380]

If this supposed ex gamekeeper is legitimate then why does he not show his face ?or reveal who he is?after all it’s not a situation where he is scared for his life from what he says!everyone is free to voice their opinion but to do it in this way just makes this film very disappointing !poor effort Chris

[@davidsmith1506]

Not everyone is free to voice their opinions, I have friends who mointor raptors on the grouse moors and they've suffered a lot of intimidation to try to scare them off. I haven't had that while out but the local keeper always slows down almost to a halt and stares with his nose almost pushed up to his side window.

[@davebob9881]

Chris didn't have a clue about the real world stick to your tv programs Chris

[@jeffsmith8339]

THE INTERVIEWEE IS A PLANT

[@mickgreaves2204]

Chia packham what a joke

[@uplandknight5782]

Do your homework Chris......look at what hares do when popilations are not kept in check...Australia, Texas.....do your homework!!!

[@samhancock268]

I dunno where you're from but Hare numbers are lower than ever here in England

[@uplandknight5782]

@@samhancock268 hares have a 7 year cycle...usually. but to blame it solely on hunting would be very ignorant

[@albertsmith1048]

If that chap (not the actor) has worked on a Grouse moor I will eat my bonnet.

[@michaelryan1087]

Enjoy your bonnet.

[@TheThunderbird885]

Spot on mate doesn't even use the right terminology

[@TheThunderbird885]

Michael you've clearly not spoken to many gamekeepers have you

[@Ptarmi]

Here, let me pass the Mustard.

[@simonwatson9730]

Hope you're feeling hungry

[@Fishhunter0]

If this is true why not play the original recordings . How do we know any of this is true ? Name the keeper he agreed to be interviewed ! Play the original tapes that you recorded ! There is no evidence here it’s just words prove this is true put the original tapes online you will be a hero !

[@mikes8917]

What a set up..false news. I have never heard such contrived crap. This is a Packham special, full of unsubstantiated claims. How much are you paying this actor for this rubbish. Go ban halal meat then I will listen, but you won’t do that will you Chris? That’s too controversial for you.

[@wibble1999]

Mike... youve stolen my thunder ..but put it far more eloquently mate. Hes full of hatred against a " story" but give a real travesty such as halal meat trade and hes silent. All hunters and any farmer ive discussed it with is 100% anti cruelty and in that the top of the list is halal meat

[@martyfeldman3269]

Oh yeah, Mike Swift The well known halal activist is in the comments section.

[@jameshughes9234]

Total fabrication

[@Dressagevids]

Yawn

[@lukehamby1404]

Utter Rubbish as to be expected from CP

[@alanbyrne4348]

fake

[@oldgroot4826]

Mountain Hares totally extinct??? Where? White pet rabbits? REALLY??? This interview is total bunkum. Unfortunately Chris has made public statements in the past that have been proven incorrect and on this occasion he has been taken in by an actor who is pretending to know about grouse moors. Feel really sorry for Chris's level of gullibility and naivety

[@bradleywoods3742]

They said that the mountain hairs were completely wiped out of entire estates, not "extinct".

[@paul1720]

He never said they were extinct. Try and listen to what is actually being said, rather than just trying to confirm your bias. It is an objective fact that mountain hares are killed in great numbers on driven grouse moors.

[@robertwilkinson7437]

This is only to divert his past quotes, that he had made. This is a poor effort and false. Check out the difference in lighting on the so called game keeper.

[@paul1720]

Fortunately, the truth doesn’t rest on your poor attempts to deflect, robert.

[@wibble1999]

@@paul1720 back to sleep al its past your bedtime

[@willbenson7279]

What a load of bull very well rehearsed though

[@oldgroot4826]

Isn't Chris Packham suposed to have no bias because of his role with the BBC? His questions are leading and full of bias. I seriously doubt the credibility of this interview

[@Ptarmi]

It rings true to me. As a former Keeper myself, it is very depressing to hear that, despite all the protestations from apologists, very little has changed since my time working under an English head Keeper, when I was schooled in the use of & yes, expected to use, Pole Traps, Gin Traps & the illegal use of poison baits. Clearly, change will never ever come from within the industry, so it will have to be imposed from outside., sooner rather than later.

[@grahamshepherd5282]

Chris can hold and express any opinion he likes so long as he isn't biased on air. I don't know why people can't grasp this.