Gamebirds and waterfowl
| Species |
England and Wales* |
Scotland |
Northern Ireland** |
| Pheasant |
1 Oct - 1 Feb |
1 Oct - 1 Feb |
1 Oct - 31 Jan |
| Grey partridge |
1 Sept - 1 Feb |
1 Sept - 1 Feb |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
Red-legged
partridge |
1 Sept - 1 Feb |
1 Sept - 1 Feb |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
| Red grouse |
12 Aug - 10 Dec |
12 Aug - 10 Dec |
12 Aug - 30 Nov |
| Black grouse |
20 Aug - 10 Dec
(Somerset, Devon and New Forest: 1 Sept - 10 Dec) |
20 Aug - 10 Dec |
N/A |
| Ptarmigan |
N/A |
12 Aug - 10 Dec |
N/A |
Duck and goose
(inland) |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
Duck and goose
(below high water mark) |
1 Sept - 20 Feb |
1 Sept - 20 Feb |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
| Common snipe |
12 Aug - 31 Jan |
12 Aug - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
| Jack snipe |
Protected |
Protected |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
| Woodcock |
1 Oct - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Oct - 31 Jan |
| Golden plover |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
| Coot/moorhen |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
1 Sept - 31 Jan |
Protected |
* No game may be killed or taken in England on Sunday or Christmas Day.
** No game may be killed or taken in Northern Ireland on Sunday.
Ground game
| Species |
England and Wales* |
Scotland |
Northern Ireland** |
| Brown hare |
Moorland and unenclosed land: 1 Sept - 31 Mar |
1 Oct - 31 Jan |
12 Aug - 31 Jan |
| Mountain hare |
N/A |
Protected – control under licence from NatureScot |
N/A |
| Rabbit |
Moorland and unenclosed land: 1 Sept - 31 Mar |
Moorland and unenclosed land: 1 Jul - 31 Mar |
No restriction (pest species) |
* No game may be killed or taken in England on Sunday or Christmas Day.
** No game may be killed or taken in Northern Ireland on Sunday.
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