Shooting Seasons UK

Wild game can only be shot during certain times of the year and for many species there is a close season during which time it is illegal to shoot them. This is to ensure that the species continue to flourish and are not hunted to extinction. Below is a list of all the dates within the UK.

GAME BIRDS

• Coot - UK - 1st Sept-31st Jan

• Curlew - Northern Ireland - 1st Sept-31st Jan

• Duck & Goose - Inland England, Scotland, Wales - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• Duck & Goose - Foreshore England, Scotland, Wales - 1st Sep-20th Feb

• Duck & Goose - Inland/Foreshore Northern Ireland - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• Golden Plover - UK - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• GROUSE - England, Scotland, Wales - 12th Aug-10th Dec

• GROUSE - Northern Ireland -12th Aug-30th Nov

• Jack Snipe - Northern Ireland only - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• Moorhen - UK - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• PARTRIDGE - UK - 1st Sep-1st Feb

• PHEASANT - England, Scotland and Wales - 1st Oct-1st Feb

• PHEASANT - Northern Ireland, cocks only - 1st Oct-31st Jan

• Ptarmigan - (only found in Scotland) - 12th Aug-10th Dec

• Quail - UK - All year

• SNIPE - common England, Scotland, Wales - 12th Aug-31st Jan

• SNIPE - common Northern Ireland - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• Woodcock - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - 1st Oct-31st Jan

• Woodcock - Scotland - 1st Sep-31st Jan

• Rabbit - UK - All year

DEER

Fallow, Red and Roe are all species of deer.

• Fallow buck - UK - 1st Aug-30th Apr

• Fallow doe - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - 1st Nov-28th Feb

• Fallow doe - Scotland - 21st Oct-15th Feb

• Red deer stags - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - 1st Aug-30th Apr

• Red deer stags - Scotland - 1st Jul-20th Oct

• Red deer hinds - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - 1st Nov-28th Feb

• Red deer hinds - Scotland - 21st Oct-15th Feb

• Roe buck - England, Wales - 1st Apr-31st Oct

• Roe buck - Scotland - 1st Apr-20th Oct

• Roe doe - England, Wales - 1st Nov-28th Feb

• Roe doe - Scotland - 21st Oct-31st Mar