Species

Pheasant

England, Scotland and Wales      Oct 1 - Feb 1

Northern Ireland                             Oct 1 - Jan 31

Partridge

England, Scotland and Wales   Sept 1 - Feb 1

Northern Ireland                          Sept 1- Jan 31

Grouse

England, Scotland and Wales  Aug 12 - Dec 10

Northern Ireland                         Aug 12 - Nov 30

Ptarmigan (only found in Scotland)

Aug 12 - Dec 10

--

Blackgame (not currently found in NI)

England, Scotland and Wales Aug 20 - Dec 10

--

Common Snipe

England, Scotland and Wales   Aug 12 - Jan 31

Northern Ireland                          Sept 1 - Jan 31

Jack Snipe

England, Scotland and Wales    Protected at all times

Northern Ireland                          Sept 1 - Jan 31

Woodcock

England,and Wales                     Oct 1- Jan 31

Northern Ireland                         Oct 1 - Jan 31

Woodcock - Scotland

Sept 1 - Jan 31

--

Duck & Goose - inland

England, Scotland and Wales    Sept 1 - Jan 31

  Northern Ireland                          Sept 1 - Jan 31

Duck & Goose - below HWM of ordinary spring tides

England, Scotland and Wales     Sept 1 - Feb 20

  Northern Ireland                            Sept 1 - Jan 31

Coot/Moorhen

England, Scotland and Wales     Sept 1 - Jan 31

  Northern Ireland                Protected at all times

Golden Plover

England, Scotland and Wales     Sept 1 - Jan 31

  Northern Ireland                           Sept 1 - Jan 31

Curlew

  England, Scotland and Wales   Protected at all times

  Northern Ireland                           Sept 1 - Jan 31

Hare* (cannot be sold Mar 1st to July 31st)

Moorland & unenclosed land subject to closed season

Aug 12 - Jan 31

*In England and Wales, under the Ground Game Act 1880 as amended by the Ground Game (Amendment) Act 1906 occupiers or authorised persons may only take and kill ground game on moorland or unenclosed land between 1st September and 31st March inclusive. An additional restriction exists in respect of the use of firearms which must not be used for such purposes between the 1st September and the 10th December. The prohibition can be waived provided all persons have a statutory right to take and kill game by the use of firearms between the 1st September and the 10th December inclusive. In Northern Ireland rabbits may be shot at any time of the year and hares may only be shot between 11 August and 31 January.

In Scotland, Section 1 (3) of the Ground Game Act 1880 has been modified by the Agriculture (Scotland) Act as follows:

The occupier of the land or persons authorised by him may kill ground game on moorlands and unenclosed lands (not being arable) in the occupier’s occupation by all legal means other than by shooting, throughout the year and by means of firearms over the period from 1 July to 31 March.