The Shooting Season Calendar
Find the open shooting seasons for Game, Wildfowl and Deer below.
This is general information and restrictions regarding specific land rights, sale of quarry, individual types within species, and Sunday and Christmas Day shooting regulations apply.
Ray Ward recommends visiting
www.basc.org.uk for more details
Quarry
There are a number of birds, wildfowl (ducks and geese) and mammals which can be shot legally. For many species there is a close season during which time it is illegal to shoot them.
The provision of this undisturbed period ensures that they are able to breed and disperse and young are able to grow. The species and seasons for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are shown below.
Game & Wildfowl - Open Seasons (dates inclusive)
| Species |
England, Scotland and Wales |
Northern Ireland (see note 2) |
| Pheasant |
Oct 1 — Feb 1 |
Oct 1 — Jan 31 |
| Partridge |
Sept 1 — Feb 1 |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Grouse |
Aug 12 — Dec 10 |
Aug 12 — Nov 30 |
| Ptarmigan (only found in Scotland) |
Aug 12 — Dec 10 |
— |
| Blackgame (not currently found in NI) |
Aug 20 — Dec 10 |
— |
| Common Snipe |
Aug 12 — Jan 31 |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Jack Snipe |
Protected at all times |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Woodcock |
Oct 1 — Jan 31 |
Oct 1 — Jan 31 |
| Woodcock — Scotland |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
— |
| Duck & Goose — inland |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Duck & Goose — below HWM of ordinary spring tides |
Sept 1 — Feb 20 |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Coot/Moorhen |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
Protected at all times |
| Golden Plover |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Curlew |
Protected at all times |
Sept 1 — Jan 31 |
| Hare* |
Jan 1 — Dec 31 |
Aug 12 — Jan 31 |
* Hares cannot be sold from Mar 1 to July 31. If the land you shoot hares on is classed as moorland or unenclosed land and your permission on that land is through the landowner or occupier then a close season and other restrictions may legally apply on that land. Contact BASC for more information.
Deer - Open Seasons (dates inclusive)
| Species |
England, Wales &
Northern Ireland |
Scotland |
| Red Deer |
|
|
| Stags |
Aug 1st — April 30th |
July 1st — Oct 20th |
Hinds
(NI) |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st (E&W)
Nov 1st — Feb 28th (NI) |
Oct 21st — Feb 15th |
| Fallow |
|
|
| Bucks |
Aug 1st — April 30th |
Aug 1st — April 30th |
| Does |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st
Nov 1st — Feb 28th |
Oct 21st — Feb 15th |
| Sika |
|
|
| Stags |
Aug 1st — April 30th |
July 1st — Oct 20th |
| Hinds |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st
Nov 1st — Feb 28th |
Oct 21st — Feb 15th |
| Roe |
(not currently found in NI) |
|
| Bucks |
April 1st — Oct 31st |
April 1st — Oct 20th |
| Does |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st |
Oct 21st — Mar 31st |
| Red/Sika Hybrids |
|
|
| Stags |
Aug 1st — April 30th |
July 1st — Oct 20th |
| Hinds |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st
Nov 1st — Feb 28th |
Oct 21st — Feb 15th |
| Chinese water Deer |
(only found in England) |
|
| Bucks |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st |
|
| Does |
Nov 1st — Mar 31st |
|
| Muntjac (see below) |
(not currently found in NI) |
|
| |
All year round |
|
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.
Notes for attention
1 Game licences in England and Wales were scrapped on August 1 2007. They are still required by law in Scotland and Northern Ireland. These should be acquired from your local post office or through BASC Scotland. ("Game" means hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath and moor game and black game. Rabbits are not included).
2 Please note BASC Northern Ireland can provide further detail on specific issues relating to Northern Ireland quarry & seasons.
Please Note: This technical information sheet is for guidance on some of the main laws affecting your sport, if you need any further information please contact the BASC Head Office on 01244 573000 or see your members guide for further information sources, additional publications and detailed information.
Ducks and Geese
Non-Lead Shot use for waterfowl-see specific technical information from BASC Research Team or Country Offices.
England, Wales & Scotland:
The duck and geese species that can be shot during their open season are:
| Gadwall |
Goldeneye |
Pintail |
Pochard |
| Shoveler |
Wigeon |
Tufted Duck |
Mallard |
| Teal |
Canada |
Greylag |
Pink-footed |
White-fronted geese can be shot in England and Wales only.
Canada geese can also be shot all year round in England only under the terms of the general licences. Click here to find out more.
Northern Ireland:
There is no shooting on the foreshore after 31st January, shooting of any wild bird including pest species is prohibited at night. Duck and geese species that can be shot are:
| Gadwall |
Goldeneye |
Pintail |
Pochard |
| Scaup |
Shoveler |
Wigeon |
Tufted Duck |
Mallard
Canada |
Teal |
Greylag |
Pink-footed |
Prohibited Methods of Taking/Killing Wildlife (Including Game)
Please note additional legislation applies to deer, further information is available from the BASC Deer Department on 01244 573047
It is illegal to use certain methods for killing or taking wildlife. Unless stated the following offences, which are subject to prosecution, apply to both birds and animals:
- The use of any automatic or semi-automatic weapon against any bird except the Bird Pest Species and some mammals. "Automatic weapon" and "semi-automatic weapon" includes any weapon the magazine of which is capable of holding more than two rounds.
- The use of any form of artificial lighting, mirror or other dazzling device (see BASC Lamping Code of Practice for exemptions).
- The use of any mechanically propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of wildlife for the purpose of killing or taking.
- The use of any self-locking snare.
- The use of any bow or crossbow or explosive other than ammunition for a firearm (or shotgun).
- The use of any live animal or bird as a decoy which is tethered or which is secured by means of braces or other similar appliances, or which is blind, maimed or injured.
- The use of shotgun where the barrel has an internal diameter, at the muzzle, of more than 1¾ inches (Birds only).
- The use of any device for illuminating a target (see BASC Lamping Code of Practice for exemptions).
- The use of any sound recording to act as a decoy (Birds only).
The Sale of Dead Wild Birds
In England, Wales and Scotland the sale of the following birds is allowed from September 1st - February 28th.
| Shoveler |
Pochard |
Coot |
|
| Tufted Duck |
Mallard |
Teal |
Pintail |
| Golden Plover |
Woodcock |
Common Snipe |
Wigeon |
In Northern Ireland the sale of dead wild birds is prohibited although the sale of the following species is allowed at all time:
Bird Pest Species
Pest birds, such woodpigeon and crows, can be controlled all year round subject to the terms and conditions of general licences. By definition
you do not need to apply for a general licence. The purposes for which you can control pest birds and the species of birds for which those purposes apply is different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Aditionally, all general licences get renewed at least once a year. For that reason BASC maintains an up to date guide to general licences on its website.
Click here for information on General Licences
Mammals Recognised as Pests
The following mammals can be controlled by legally approved methods all year round:
| Fox |
Brown Rat |
Mice* |
Rabbit |
Grey Squirrel |
| Mink |
Weasel |
Stoat |
Feral Cat |
|
* All species except Dormice
Sunday and Christmas Day Shooting
England & Wales:
No game (including hare) may be shot in any county on any Sunday or on Christmas day.
Before the passing of the wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Orders prohibiting the shooting of wildfowl on Sundays could be made under the provisions of sections 2 and 13 of the Protection of Birds Act 1954. Although Sunday Orders can still be made under Section 2 (3), none have been made. However, some Sunday Orders made prior to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have not been repealed and are still in existence. They have the effect of making it illegal to shoot wildfowl on a Sunday in the following counties (or parts of counties in existence before the 1974 re-organisation):
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:
There are no statutory restrictions on the killing of game on Sunday or on Christmas Day although it is not customary to do so. Wildfowl may not be shot on Sundays or on Christmas Day.
Northern Ireland:
The following may not be shot on Sundays or on Christmas Day, under the Wildlife Order NI, the Game Preservation (Amendment) Act (NI) 2002, the Wildlife Order as amended and game act 1831, etc
- Pest birds
- Game in season
- Rabbits
- Deer
Mammalian pest control ie foxes and small vermin (rat, mouse, grey squirrel etc) there is no prohibiton on Sundays.
Amended: September 2009
