Annex P:  Summary of relevant shooting legislation          

P.1  Shooting wild birds

P.1.1   All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.  It is an offence to shoot a wild bird, but there are important exceptions:

• certain wild birds (see below) may be shot during the open season, which for most species lasts from September 1st to January 31st;
• the open season for Woodcock is October 1st to January 31st;
• the open season for Snipe is 12 August to January 31st;
• ducks and geese below high water mark (in tidal areas) may be shot between September 1st and February 20th;
• some wild birds are classified as game and may be shot – subject to certain conditions which are set out below;
• some wild birds may be shot at any time of year under the terms and conditions of a general licence[90]to protect against damage to crops or for public health or safety;
• all wild birds are protected at all times in Areas of Special Protection (SPAs)

P.1.2   The wild bird species that can be shot during the open season are: gadwall, shoveler, teal, goldeneye, wigeon, canada goose, pintail, tufted duck, greylag goose, pochard, mallard, pink-footed goose, white-fronted goose, woodcock, golden plover, moorhen, coot, capercaille and snipe. In some areas these birds may not be shot on Sundays[91].  The open seasons for wild birds that may be shot are summarised in the tables overleaf.

P.2  Shooting wild mammals

P.2.1   Most mammals may be shot throughout the year. The exceptions are deer, which may be shot during the open season, and the protected mammal species listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which may not be shot at any time. The Schedule includes all species of bats, wild cat, otter, dormouse, pine martin, red squirrel and all dolphins, porpoises and whales.

P.3  Shooting game 

P.3.1   Some birds and mammals are classified as game and may only be shot (or taken) if you hold a valid game licence. Licences are available from Post Offices. The species defined as game under the Game Act 1831 are hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath or moor game and black game.  No game may be shot on Sundays or on Christmas Day.  The open seasons for game species are summarised in the tables below.

P.4  Shooting wild deer

P.4.1   Shooting deer is controlled in England by the Deer Act 1991, which sets out a close season for most species.  The open seasons for deer are summarised in the tables below.

P.5  Shooting pests

P.5.1   Certain ‘pest’ species may be shot under the authority of a general licence at any time of year.

P.5.2   The bird pest species which may be killed or taken under licence are: crow, jackdaw, magpie, rook, jay, house sparrow, starling, woodpigeon, feral pigeon, collared dove, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull and greater black-backed gull. The general licence permits these birds to be killed only for the purposes of preventing serious damage to agricultural concerns or for public health and safety. For any other purposes an individual licence must be obtained.

P.5.3   The following mammals are sometimes regarded as pests and may be controlled by legally approved methods all year round: fox, rat, mouse (all species except dormouse), grey squirrel, rabbit, mink, weasel, stoat and feral cat.

P.6  Game and wild birds – open seasons (all dates inclusive)

Species	Open season
Pheasant	Oct 1st - Feb 1st
Partridge	Sep 1st - Feb 1st
Grouse	Aug 12th - Dec 10th
Blackgame	Aug 20th - Dec 10th [92]
Common Snipe	Aug 12th - Jan 31st
Woodcock	Oct 1st- Jan 31st
Duck & Goose – inland	Sep 1st - Jan 31st
Duck & Goose - below high water mark of ordinary spring tides	Sep 1st - Feb 20th
Coot/Moorhen	Sep 1st - Jan 31st
Golden Plover	Sep 1st - Jan 31st
Hare (moorland and unenclosed land)	Sep 1st – Jan 31st
Hare (other land)	No close season