Game 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. However, it should be remembered that lots of wild game is now available frozen throughout the year. Below is a chart showing the shooting seasons.

Type		Season Start	Season End
Coot	UK	1st Sep	31st Jan
Curlew	Northern Ireland	1st Sep	31st Jan
Deer - see Venison
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
Hare Shooting	England, Scotland, Wales	1st Aug	29th Feb
Hare Shooting	Northern Ireland	12th Aug	31st Jan
NB Irish hares in Northern Ireland have been subject to temporary Special Protection Orders (SPOs) which prohibit the killing or taking, or the sale or purchase of hares. The current special protection order will run until 31 March 2009
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
Rabbit	UK	All year
Snipe - common	England, Scotland, Wales	12th Aug	31st Jan
Snipe - common	Northern Ireland	1st Sep	31st Jan
Venison - Fallow, Red and Roe are species of deer
Venison - Fallow bucks	UK	1st Aug	30th Apr
Venison - Fallow does	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	1st Nov	28th Feb
Venison - Fallow does	Scotland	21st Oct	15th Feb
Venison - Red deer hinds	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	1st Nov	28th Feb
Venison - Red deer hinds	Scotland	21st Oct	15th Feb
Venison - Red deer stags	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	1st Aug	30th Apr
Venison - Red deer stags	Scotland	1st Jul	20th Oct
Venison - Roe bucks	England, Wales	1st Apr	31st Oct
Venison - Roe bucks	Scotland	1st Apr	20th Oct
Venison - Roe does	England, Wales	1st Nov	28th Feb
Venison - Roe does	Scotland	21st Oct	31st Mar
Woodcock	England, Wales, Northern Ireland	1st Oct	31st Jan
Woodcock	Scotland	1st Sep	31st Jan
Wood Pigeon	UK	All year

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