Game Seasons: When to Hunt, Fish & Shoot

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.

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Game birds

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

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

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.