The majority of game can only be shot during specific times of the years to allow them to breed and successfully migrate to their wintering grounds. A comprehensive guide to the shooting seasons is given below.
Game birds
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
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
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
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.