Firearms Licensing
On this page you will find advice on applying for or renewing a firearms certificate, the laws on...
Read moreThe majority of game can only be shot during specific times of the years to allow them to breed and/or allow them to successfully migrate. A comprehensive guide to the shooting seasons is given below.
Game birds
| Species | England, Wales and Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Pheasant | Oct 1st - Feb 1st | Oct 1st - Nov 30th |
| Grey Partridge | Sept 1st - Feb 1st | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Red-Legged Partridge | Sept 1st - Feb 1st | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Red Grouse | Aug 12th - Dec 10th | Aug 12th - Nov 30th |
| Black Grouse | Aug 12th - Dec 10th | - |
| Ptarmigan | Aug 12th - Dec 10th | - |
Additional restrictions:
England and Wales
- No game may be killed on Sundays or Christmas Day.
- Game may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Scotland
- Game may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Northern Ireland
- All wild birds are protected on Sundays and Christmas Day.
- Wild birds may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Wildfowl, geese and waders
| Species | England, Wales and Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Duck and Goose (inland) | Sept 1st - Jan 31st | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Duck and Goose (below high water mark | Sept 1st - Feb 20th | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Common Snipe | Aug 12th - Jan 31st | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Woodcock |
Oct 1st - Jan 31st (Scotland: Sept 1st - Jan 31st) |
Oct 1st - Jan 31st |
| Golden Plover | Sept 1st - Jan 31st | Sept 1st - Jan 31st |
| Coot and Moorhen | Sept 1st - Jan 31st | PROTECTED |
Additional restrictions:
England and Wales
- Sunday shooting of wildfowl is not permitted in the following counties or county boroughs: Anglesey, Brecknock, Caernarvon, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Cornwall, Denbigh, Devon, Doncaster, Glamorgan, Great Yarmouth County Borough, Isle of Ely, Leeds County Borough, Merioneth, Norfolk, Pembroke, Somerset, North and West Ridings of Yorkshire.
Scotland
- Wildfowl may not be shot on Sunday or Christmas Day.
Northern Ireland
- All wild birds are protected on Sundays and Christmas Day.
- Wild birds may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
ground Game
| Species | England, Wales and Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Brown Hare | Jan 1st - Dec 31st | Aug 12th - Jan 31st |
| Mountain Hare |
Aug 1st - Feb 28th/29th (Scotland: Oct 1st - Jan 31st) |
- |
| Rabbit | Jan 1st - Dec 31st | NO CLOSE SEASON |
Additional restrictions:
England and Wales
- Ground game can only be killed with firearms on moorland or unenclosed land between 11 December and 31 March.
Northern Ireland
- Irish Hare is fully protected under a Special Protection Order which has to be renewed regularly.
- Ground game may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
DEER
| Species | England, Wales and Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Males | Females | Males | Females | |
| Red | Aug 1 - Apr 30 | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | Jul 1 - Oct 20 | Oct 21 - Feb 15 |
| Fallow | Aug 1 - Apr 30 | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | Aug 1 - Apr 30 | Oct 21 - Feb 15 |
| Sika | Aug 1 - Apr 30 | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | Jul 1 - Oct 20 | Oct 21 - Feb 15 |
| Roe | Apr 1 - Oct 31 | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | Apr 1 - Oct 20 | Oct 21 - Mar 31 |
| Chinese Water Deer | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | Nov 1 - Mar 31 | - |
| Muntjac | NO CLOSE SEASON | NO CLOSE SEASON |
Additional restrictions:
England, Wales and Scotland
- Deer may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Northern Ireland
- Deer may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Wild Boar
- No statutory close season, but culling should not include sows with dependant offspring.
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