Countryside Alliance Northern Ireland

Shooting Seasons

Written by Countryside Alliance Northern Ireland | 07-Jun-2023 12:52:51

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
 
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

  • Ground game may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Deer 

The open season for roe buck stalking in Scotland is 1st April – 20th October.

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.