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Game seasons

The 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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