General Licences
Wild Birds: General Licences for England 2022 - 2023 We have welcomed the reissuing by Defra of the...
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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