Breadcrumbs
Wildlife Management and Licensing: Game birds
Legal definition
Game birds are defined under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) as any pheasant, partridge, grouse (moor game), black (heath) game or ptarmigan.
Close seasons
Game birds can only be killed or taken at certain times of year.
The periods during which they may not be killed or taken (the so-called close seasons) were established in England and Wales by the Game Act 1831. This made it an offence to kill or take game birds between the following dates:
| Game bird (common name if different from that cited in legislation) |
Close seasons (dates between) |
|---|---|
| Black game (black grouse) | 10 December - 20 August (10 December - 1 September for Somerset, Devon and New Forest) |
| Grouse (red grouse and ptarmigan) | 10 December - 12 August |
| Partridges (grey partridge and red-legged partridge) | 1 February - 1 September |
| Pheasants | 1 February - 1 October |
It is also an offence to take or kill game on Sundays and Christmas Day (in England and Wales).
The following species are normally considered to be game birds, but were not included in the nineteenth game legislation. Close seasons for these species are set by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), and in England and Wales are:
| Game bird | Close seasons (dates inclusive) |
|---|---|
| Capercaillie | 1 February - 30 September |
| Snipe, Common | 1 February - 11 August |
| Woodcock | 1 February - 30 September |
Please note the following:
- Capercaillie are now fully protected in Scotland;
- The close season for woodcock is different in Scotland (1 Feb to 31 Aug);
- The two Acts of Parliament define the period of the close seasons differently (i.e. "dates between" or "dates inclusive").
Shooting birds in the close season
It is illegal to shoot game birds during their close seasons.
Licences cannot be issued under either the Game Acts or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) to kill or take game birds during the close season. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the birds are causing serious damage, a notice may be issued under Section 98 of the Agriculture Act 1947. For advice on how to proceed in these cases please contact us.
Bag statistics
Defra commissioned a research project investigating the provision of bag statistics for huntable birds in the United Kingdom, see Provision of bag statistics for huntable birds.