Shooting Season Dates

Shooting dates vary between species, don’t get caught out – and don’t miss a day(!) – with our guide to shooting quarry*.

No game may be killed in England on Sunday or Christmas Day.
No game may be killed or taken in Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Gamebirds and waterfowl

Pheasant

1st Oct - 1st Feb (England, Wales and Scotland)
1st October – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Grey and Red-legged Partridge

1st Sept – 1st Feb (England, Wales and Scotland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Red Grouse

12th Aug – 10th Dec (England, Wales and Scotland)
12th Aug – 30th Nov (Northern Ireland)

Black Grouse

20th Aug – 10th Dec (Somerset, Devon and New Forest: 1 Sept - 10 Dec) (England, Wales and Scotland)
n/a (Northern Ireland)

Ptarmigan

n/a (England and Wales)
12th Aug – 10th Dec (Scotland)
n/a (Northern Ireland)

Duck and Goose

(inland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)

(below high watermark)
1st Sept – 20th Feb (England, Wales and Scotland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Common Snipe

12th Aug – 31st Jan (England, Wales and Scotland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Jack Snipe

Protected (England, Wales and Scotland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Woodcock

1st Oct – 31st Jan (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
1st Sept – 31st Jan (Scotland)

Golden Plover

1st Sept – 31st Jan (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)

Coot/Moorhen

1st Sept – 31st Jan (England, Wales and Scotland)
Protected (Northern Ireland)

Ground Game

Brown hare

1st Sept – 31st Mar (moorland and enclosed land) (England and Wales)
1st Oct – 31st Jan (Scotland)
12th Aug – 31st Jan (Northern Ireland)

Mountain hare

n/a (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
1st Aug – 28/29 Feb (Scotland)

Rabbit

1st Sept – 31st Mar (moorland and enclosed land) (England and Wales)
1st July – 31st Mar (moorland and enclosed land) (Scotland)
No restriction (pest species) (Northern Ireland)

*These dates have been taken from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust website and are correct at the time of publishing. For updates and further information please visit their website.
https://www.gwct.org.uk/game/advice/shooting-season-dates/

The BASC website also has further detailed information relating to shooting and stalking dates. Read further on their website for the Open Seasons for Deer.