British Game Birds and Their 'Season'
In the UK, shooting seasons are strictly regulated to ensure bird populations can breed and recover during the spring and summer. Generally, seasons start in the late summer or autumn and end in late winter.
Below are the legal shooting seasons for game birds, waterfowl, and waders in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland) and Northern Ireland for 2025–2026.
Main Game Birds
These are the species most commonly associated with driven and walked-up shooting.
Bird Species | England, Wales & Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Pheasant | Oct 1 – Feb 1 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
| Grey Partridge | Sept 1 – Feb 1 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Red-legged Partridge | Sept 1 – Feb 1 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Red Grouse | Aug 12 – Dec 10 | Aug 12 – Nov 30 |
| Black Grouse | Aug 20 – Dec 10* | Protected |
| Ptarmigan | Aug 12 – Dec 10 (Scotland only) | Protected |
Waterfowl & WadersWildfowling seasons often vary depending on whether you are shooting inland or on the "foreshore" (the area between high and low water marks).
Bird Species | England, Wales & Scotland | Northern Ireland |
| Duck & Goose (Inland) | Sept 1 – Jan 31 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Duck & Goose (Foreshore) | Sept 1 – Feb 20 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Common Snipe | Aug 12 – Jan 31 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Woodcock | Oct 1 – Jan 31** | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
| Golden Plover | Sept 1 – Jan 31 | Sept 1 – Jan 31 |
| Coot & Moorhen | Sept 1 – Jan 31 | Protected |
*Woodcock in Scotland: The statutory season starts on September 1st, though many estates voluntarily wait until December to protect resident populations.**Jack Snipe: This bird is fully protected in England, Wales, and Scotland, but may be shot in Northern Ireland from Sept 1 – Jan 31.
Important Legal Restrictions
- Sundays and Christmas Day: In England and Wales, it is illegal to shoot game birds on Sundays or Christmas Day. In Scotland, while there is no statutory law against it for most game, it is widely considered a "gentleman’s agreement" and local custom to refrain from shooting on these days.
- Night Shooting: It is illegal to shoot game birds between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
- General Licences: Certain "pest" birds like woodpigeons or crows do not have a closed season but can only be shot under "General Licences" for specific reasons (e.g., preventing crop damage).