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We’ve been passionate about game shooting for decades and our business has been built on providing everything a shooter needs to enjoy the sport to the full.
The UK shooting seasons ensure game, waterfowl and other animals can breed successfully and move between breeding and wintering grounds.
Known as open season, rabbit and pigeon can be shot at any time of year. All other species are subject to specific time scales. Known as close season, this is when it is illegal to shoot game or deer.
All responsible shooters respect these dates in the knowledge that it is essential for populations to breed and flourish.
| SPECIES | ENGLAND AND WALES | SCOTLAND | NORTHERN IRELAND | ISLE OF MAN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pheasant |
Oct 1st - Feb 1st |
Oct 1st - Feb 1st |
Oct 1st - Jan 31st |
Oct 1st - Jan 31st |
||
|
Grey Patridge |
Oct 1st - Jan 1st |
Oct 1st - Jan 1st |
Oct 1st - Jan 1st |
Oct 1st - Jan 1st |
||
|
Red-legged Partridge |
Sep 1st - Feb 1st |
Sep 1st - Feb 1st |
Sep 1st - Jan 31st |
Sep 13th - Jan 31st |
||
|
Red Grouse |
Aug 12th - Dec 10th |
Aug 12th – Dec 10th |
Aug 12th – Nov 30th |
Aug 25th – Oct 31st * |
||
|
Black Grouse |
Aug 20th – Dec 10th (Somerset, Devon and New Forest: Sep 1st – Dec 10th) |
Aug 20th – Dec 10th |
— |
— |
||
|
Ptarmigan |
— |
Aug 12th – Dec 10th |
— |
— |
||
|
Duck & Goose inland |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st – Ducks. July 1st – Mar 31st – Geese** |
||
|
Duck & Goose below HWM (see below) |
Sep 1st – Feb 20th |
Sep 1st – Feb 20th |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st – Ducks. July 1st – Mar 31st – Geese** |
||
|
Common Snipe |
Aug 12th – Jan 31st |
Aug 12th – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
||
|
Jack Snipe |
Protected |
Protected |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Protected |
||
|
Woodcock |
Oct 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Oct 1st – Jan 31st |
Oct 1st – Jan 31st |
||
|
Golden Plover |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Protected |
||
|
Coot/Moorhen |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Sep 1st – Jan 31st |
Protected |
Protected |
HWM – High water mark:
England and Wales: The area of sea shore which is more often than not covered by the flux and reflux of the four ordinary tides occurring midway between springs and neaps.
Scotland: Area between high and low water marks of ordinary spring tides
Northern Ireland: The limit of where the living seaweed is attached to the stones of the foreshore.
Isle of Man: * Currently a voluntary ban on shooting red grouse is in place. ** Geese can only be shot under general licence under the Wildlife Act 1990. See the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website for terms and conditions of general licences http://www.gov.im/categories/the-environment-and-greener-living/wildlife/
England and Wales
No game (pheasant, partridge, red grouse, black grouse and hare) may be killed or taken in any county on Sunday or Christmas Day.
Some counties (or parts of counties in existence before the 1974 local authority re-organisation) do not permit the shooting of wildfowl on Sundays – Anglesey, Brecknock, Caernarvon, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Cornwall, Denbigh, Devon, Doncaster, Glamorgan, Great Yarmouth County Borough, Isle of Ely, Leeds County Borough, Merioneth, Norfolk, Pembroke, Somerset, North and West Ridings of Yorkshire.
Scotland
Whilst there are no statutory restrictions on the killing of game on Sunday or Christmas Day, it is not customary to do so. Wildfowl may not be shot on Sunday or Christmas Day.
Northern Ireland
Wild bird, gamebird or hare cannot be shot on a Sunday although the restrictions do not apply on Christmas Day, provided it does not fall on a Sunday, it is not customary to do so.
Isle of Man
The killing or taking of game is not permitted on Sunday, but restrictions do not apply on Christmas Day unless it falls on a Sunday.
Guernsey
Shooting is not permitted on Sunday or Christmas Day.
Jersey
Firearms to kill any wild bird or animal is not permitted on Sunday, Good Friday and Christmas Day unless acting under and in accordance with the terms or conditions of a licence.
A game licence is different to a shotgun certificate. Game licences to kill or take game are not required in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, a venison dealer’s licence is still required for those wishing to deal in venison although deer stalkers can sell their venison direct to a venison dealer without the need for a licence.
On the Isle of Man a game licence is required in order to shoot game and is available from the Treasury Office. Game is defined as pheasant, partridge, grouse or moor game and hare (brown or common). A game dealer’s licence is also required for those wishing to deal in game.
There is no requirement for a game licence on Guernsey. In Jersey there are no game seasons and therefore a game licence is not required.
The UK has some of the most rigorous gun laws in the world which we can explain in detail if required. We can only hire shotguns to people who hold and present an original and valid UK Shotgun Certificate.
If you require a temporary licence, we can arrange through our Visitor Permit Service for EU and Non-EU visitors wishing to shoot in the UK.
Under UK law, all hire guns must be collected in person by the licence holder. Hire guns must be returned by the licence holder between 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday. We cannot accept returns of hire guns on Sundays. By law the maximum period for gun hire cannot exceed 72 hours.
London Gun Company Limited is registered in England and Wales No 07726864. London Gun Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 784710. We are credit broker and only offers credit products from Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd. Credit subject to age and status.
