Campaign for Shooting

Shooting Season Calendar UK & ROI | Countryside Alliance

Written by Countryside Alliance | Jan 9, 2024 3:27:00 PM

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 1 - Feb 1 Oct 1 - Jan 31
Grey Partridge Sep 1 - Feb 1 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Red-Legged Partridge Sep 1 - Feb 1 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Red Grouse Aug 12 - Dec 10 Aug 12 - Nov 30
Black Grouse Aug 12 - Dec 10 -
Ptarmigan Aug 12 - Dec 10 -

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) Sep 1 - Jan 31 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Duck and Goose (below high water mark) Sep 1 - Feb 20 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Common Snipe Aug 12 - Jan 31 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Jack Snipe PROTECTED Sep 1 - Jan 31
Woodcock

Oct 1 - Jan 31

(Scotland: Sep 1 - Jan 31)

 Oct 1 - Jan 31
Golden Plover Sep 1 - Jan 31 Sep 1 - Jan 31
Coot and Moorhen Sep 1 - Jan 31 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 and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Brown Hare
No close season on enclosed land
 
Dec 11 – Mar 31 on moorland and unenclosed land with a firearm  
 Oct 1 - Jan  31 Aug 12 - Jan 31
Mountain Hare
No close season on enclosed land
 
Dec 11 – Mar 31 on moorland and unenclosed land with a firearm  

PROTECTED

Control under individual license

Aug 12 - Jan 31
Rabbit
No close season on enclosed land
 
Dec 11 – Mar 31 on moorland and unenclosed land with a firearm  
No close season on enclosed land
 
Jul 1 – Mar 31 on moorland and unenclosed land with a firearm
 NO CLOSE SEASON

Additional restrictions:

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 and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
  Males         |       Females Males         |       Females Males       |       Females
Red Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31 No Close   |   Oct 21 - Feb 15 Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31
Fallow Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31 No Close   |   Oct 21 - Feb 15 Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31
Sika Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31 No Close   |   Oct 21 - Feb 15 Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31
Roe Apr 1 - Oct 31  |  Nov 1 - Mar 31 No Close   |   Oct 21 - Mar 31 -
Chinese Water Deer Nov 1 - Mar 31  |  Nov 1 - Mar 31 - -
Muntjac NO CLOSE SEASON 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 dependent offspring.

Republic of Ireland

Species Season Notes
Red Grouse Sep 1 - Sep 30 -
Red-legged Partridge Nov 1 - Jan 31 -
Cock Pheasant Nov 1 - Jan 31 No open season for hens
Woodcock Nov 1 - Jan 31 -
Woodpigeon Nov 1 - Jan 31 -
Common Snipe & Jack Snipe Sep 1 - Jan 31 -
Golden Plover Sep 1 - Jan 31 -
Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck Sep 1 - Jan 31 -
Canada Goose Sep 1 - Oct 15 Also Oct 16 - Jan 31 in counties of Cavan (exclusive of the townlands of Eonish Island, Rinn, Deramfield) and Leitrim (exclusive of the River Shannon).
Greylag Goose Sep 1 - Oct 15 Also Oct 16 - Jan 31 on Lady's Island, County Wexford and Gearagh East & Gearagh West, County Cork
Ruddy Duck Sep 1 - Jan 31 -
 
Mammals
Species

Season

Males | Females

 Notes
Red Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31 Excludes County Kerry
Fallow Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31 -
Sika Aug 1 - Apr 30   |   Nov 1 - Mar 31  -
Muntjac NO CLOSE SEASON -
Hares* Sep 26 - Feb 28 Excludes County Wexford, townlands of North East Slob, North West Slob, Big Island, Beggerin Island and The Raven.

*Includes shooting, coursing at regulated coursing matches and hunting with packs of beagles or harriers.
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