Ross Minett of Advocates for Animals quotes a few statistics and a lot of generalisations about the link between grouse moors and birds of prey (Letters, July 10).

Here are some hard facts which tell a rather different story.

A study of all moorland birds in the Peak District was published in 2005. It showed that over the previous 15 years all species of moorland birds of prey had increased, some dramatically - peregrine by 286%, short-eared owl by 260%, merlin by 50%, kestrel by 24%, raven and buzzard by 18 times.

The Peak District moors are extensively used for grouse shooting and a second study was done in 2006 to measure how that form of integrated management related to on those population increases. If Ross Minett's theory is right, it would have shown a very low correlation. However, the reality was that those birds of prey were found to be "positively associated with areas that are managed for grouse. None of the birds of prey was found to be negatively linked to the area covered by keepered land".

The organisations supporting that research were Moors for the Future, Game Conservancy Trust, Peak District National Park, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England, and eight others. It is also worth noting that in two of the Special Protection Areas set up by Scottish Natural Heritage to protect hen harriers in the past decade, harrier breeding has fallen to worryingly low levels, and human persecution of nests is not being blamed in either case. On the Langholm/Newcastleton Hills SPA, the main problem is fox predation since keepering stopped nearly a decade ago.

Ross Minett would do well to spend a few days with some members of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association on the ground to find out what management of moorland birds is really all about, rather than selectively quoting other organisation's work to make a case which fits the Advocates for Animals extremist agenda.

Tim Baynes, Moorland Policy Officer, The Scottish Countryside Alliance, 367 Kennington Road, London. Mr Hogg (Letters, July 7) is incorrect in stating that stringent rules are not applied to raptor reintroduction schemes in Scotland. In fact, years of planning, scientific review and approval and licences must be given by the appropriate government bodies before raptors are released into the countryside.

It may be appropriate to ask why these same stringent rules do not apply to the annual release of many millions of pheasants and red-legged partridges, species that are not and never have been native to this country. It was stated in the Scottish Parliament in December 2005 that eight million pheasants were released in Scotland annually and it is estimated that two million of these are shot. Do we really know what damage is being done to our native fauna and flora by the impact of this one alien species?

An estimated 1.5 million birds (including rooks and jays), and three million mammals (stoats, weasels, etc) are legally destroyed on lowland shoots in the UK each year in the name of game management (Tapper, 1992). Is this really justified in the 21st century when people want to view and appreciate our native wildlife rather the countless squashed pheasants on our main roads? Time now, perhaps, for the same rigorous rules that exist for raptor reintroductions to be applied to the game industry.

Wendy Mattingley, Cluny House, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. Ross Minett continues his anti-gamekeeper campaign by quoting results from the Scottish Raptor Study Group, an organisation without a shred of credibility among serious ornithologists.

He homes in on a supposed golden eagle "recovery" in the southern and eastern Highlands and parts of the Southern Uplands being constrained by poisoning on land managed as grouse moor.

Mr Minnet is clearly not aware of the happy situation of the golden eagle in Britain, for with a stable population estimated at 422 pairs, (NFP birdlife international - www.birdlife.org.uk) no recovery is necessary.

Pesticide abuse is a problem. But so is raptor control, and until people such as Mr Minett and those in the conservation industry who care nothing for the livelihoods of those who have real jobs in the countryside, are prepared to own up to this fact, then the useless point-scoring game that has characterised this whole subject will continue.

Niall McKillop, Ford Cottage, Badabrie, Banavie, Fort William.