Shooting seasons
Shooting seasons
Game and wildfowl
Species | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Isle of Man |
Pheasant | Oct 1 – Feb 1 | Oct 1 – Feb 1 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
Grey partridge | Sep 1 – Feb 1 | Sep 1 – Feb 1 | Sep 1- Jan 31 | Protected (ban in force) |
Red-legged partridge | Sep 1 – Feb 1 | Sep 1 – Feb 1 | Sep 1- Jan 31 | Sep 13 – Jan 31 |
Red grouse | Aug 12 – Dec 10 | Aug 12 – Dec 10 | Aug 12 – Nov 30 | Aug 25 – Oct 31 * |
Black grouse | Aug 20 – Dec 10 (Somerset, Devon and New Forest: Sep 1 – Dec 10) | Aug 20 – Dec 10 | — | — |
Ptarmigan | — | Aug 12 – Dec 10 | — | — |
Duck and goose inland | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 – DucksJuly 1 – Mar 31 – Geese** |
Duck and goose below HOST (see below) | Sep 1 – Feb 20 | Sep 1 – Feb 20 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31- Ducks Jul 1 – Mar 31 – Geese ** |
Common Snipe | Aug 12 – Jan 31 | Aug 12 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 |
Jack Snipe | Protected | Protected | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Protected |
Woodcock | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
Golden Plover | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Protected |
Coot/Moorhen | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 1 – Jan 31 | Protected | Protected |
HWM – High Water Mark of ordinary spring tides England, Wales and Scotland: Any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides Isle of Man: * Currently a voluntary ban on shooting red grouse is in place. ** Geese can only be shot under general licence under the Wildlife Act 1990. See the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website for terms and conditions of general licences here
Species | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Isle of Man |
Brown hare | Jan 1 – Dec 31 No close season however certain restrictions can apply, see below. |
Open season Oct 1 – Jan 31 | Aug 12 – Jan 31* | Brown or common hare Oct 1 – Jan 31. |
Mountain hare | Protected | |||
Rabbit | Jan 1 – Dec 31 No close season however certain restrictions can apply, see below. |
Jan 1 – Dec 31 No close season however certain restrictions can apply, see below. |
Rabbit is classed as a pest and therefore not subject to a close season. | No close season. |
Country-specific information
In England and Wales under the Ground Game Act 1880 occupiers of land have an inalienable right to kill and take ground game concurrent with any other person holding such a right. Occupiers or a person authorised by them, acting under the authority of this act may only kill or take ground game on moorland between 1 September and 31 March inclusive. Further under Section 1 (3) and Ground Game Amendment Act 1906 Section 2) Firearms may only be used for such purposes between 11 December and 31 March.
In Scotland, the occupier of the land or persons authorised by them may kill rabbit throughout the year on moorland and unenclosed land (not being arable) by all legal means but only by means of firearms during the period from 1 July to 31 March inclusive (Section 1 (3) of the Ground Game Act 1880 as modified by the Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948). Hares are subject to a close season (Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011) (see above).
Moorland and unenclosed land does not include arable land or detached portions of land less than 25 acres which adjoins arable land.
Deer
From 21 October, the closed season for the males of all deer species in Scotland will be removed. This means that all male deer in Scotland will be able to be taken all year round
Species and Sex | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
Red | |||
Stags | Aug 1st – April 30th | Year-round* | Aug 1st – April 30th |
Hinds | Nov 1st – Mar 31 | Oct 21st – Feb 15th | Nov 1st – Mar 31 |
Sika | |||
Stags | Aug 1st – April 30th | Year-round* | Aug 1st – April 30th |
Hinds | Nov 1st – Mar 31st | Oct 21st – Feb 15th | Nov 1st – Mar 31st |
Red/Sika hybrids | |||
Stags | Aug 1st – April 30th | Year-round* | Aug 1st – April 30th |
Hinds | Nov 1st – Mar 31st | Oct 21st – Feb 15th | Nov 1st – Mar 31st |
Fallow | |||
Bucks | Aug 1st – April 30th | Year-round* | Aug 1st – April 30th |
Does | Nov 1st – Mar 31st | Oct 21st – Feb 15th | Nov 1st – Mar 31st |
Roe | |||
Bucks | April 1st – Oct 31st | Year-round* | — |
Does | Nov 1st – Mar 31st | Oct 21st – March 31st | — |
Chinese Water deer | |||
Bucks | Nov 1st – Mar 31st | — | — |
Does | Nov 1st– Mar 31st | — | — |
Muntjac | |||
There is no statutory closed season for this species. It is recommended that when culling female muntjac, immature or heavily pregnant does are selected to avoid leaving dependent young. |
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