The Gundog Year: Shooting Season 2016

In the game world, most quarries have open and closed seasons. Closed seasons allow numbers to multiply and to allow game to migrate to different areas to feed and overwinter. If you’re not sure when open season is for the game you like to shoot, here’s a handy guide covering quarry for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as a few rules to bear in mind.

Gamebirds and Waterfowl

Black Grouse

England and Wales – 20th August-10th December (Somerset, Devon and New Forest 1st September-10th December)

Scotland – 20th August-10th December

Northern Ireland – N/A

Red Grouse

England and Wales – 12th August-10th December

Scotland – 12th-10th December

Northern Ireland – 12th August-30th November

Common Snipe

England and Wales – 12th August-31st January

Scotland – 12th August-31st January

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Grey Partridge

England and Wales – 1st September-1st February

Scotland – 1st September-1st February

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Red-Legged Partridge

England and Wales – 1st September-1st February

Scotland – 1st September-1st February

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Duck and Goose (Inland)

England and Wales – 1st September-31st January

Scotland – 1st September-31st January

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Duck and Goose (Below High Water Mark)

England and Wales – 1st September-20th February

Scotland – 1st September-20th February

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Golden Plover

England and Wales – 1st September-31st January

Scotland – 1st September-31st January

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Coot/Moorhen

England and Wales – 1st September-31st January

Scotland – 1st September-31st January

Northern Ireland – Protected

Pheasant

England and Wales – 1st October-1st February

Scotland – 1st October-1st February

Northern Ireland – 1st October-31st January

Woodcock

England and Wales – 1st October-31st January

Scotland – 1st September-31st January

Northern Ireland – 1st October-31st January

Jack Snipe

England and Wales – Protected

Scotland – Protected

Northern Ireland – 1st September-31st January

Ptarmigan

England and Wales – N/A

Scotland – 12th August-10th December

Northern Ireland – N/A

Ground Game

Brown Hare

England and Wales – Moorland and unenclosed land: 1st September-31st March

Scotland – 1st October-31st January

Northern Ireland – 12th August-31st January

Mountain Hare

England and Wales – N/A

Scotland – 1st August-28th/29th February

Northern Ireland – N/A

Rabbit

England and Wales – Moorland and unenclosed land: 1st September-31st March

Scotland – Moorland and unenclosed land: 1st July-31st March

Northern Ireland – No restriction (pest species)

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

Further information is available from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.