Brief Guide to Popular UK Hunting Seasons

With shooting seasons in full flow we thought it would be a good idea to give you a quick guide to some of the season open and close dates along with some useful links and advice.

Game Birds

Species

England, Wales & Scotland

Northern Ireland

Red Grouse

Aug 12th – Dec 10th

Aug 12th – Nov 30th

Black Grouse

Aug 20th – Dec 10th

-

Ptarmigan

Aug 12th – Dec 10th

-

Grey Partridge

Sep 1st – Feb 1st

Sep 1st – Jan 31st

Red-Legged Partridge

Sep 1st – Feb 1st

Sep 1st – Jan 31st

Pheasant

Oct 1st – Feb 1st

Oct 1st – Jan 31st

  Pheasant is considered by many to be the backbone of driven game shooting here in the UK and now the season has started, it is time to get out there in the field.  Pheasants notoriously prefer to run rather than fly but once driven they take to the skies and can pick up speed pretty fast and can fly over a line of guns in no time at all. The hilly terrain of the North of England and Scotland is perfect for this with many drives available.

 

Here are a couple of websites worth visiting –

www.whitfieldsporting.co.uk

www.cowanssporting.co.uk

 

Deer Stalking

Species

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

Scotland

Males

Females

Males

Females

Roe

Apr 1st –Oct 31st

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

Apr 1st – Oct 20th

Oct 21st – Mar 31st

Red

Aug 1st – Apr 30th

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

Jul 1st – Oct 20th

Oct 21st – Feb 15th

Fallow

Aug 1st – Apr 30th

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

Aug 1st – Apr 30th

Oct 21st – Feb 15th

Sika

Aug 1st – Apr 30th

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

Jul 1st – Oct 20th

Oct 21st – Feb 15th

Chinese Water Deer

Nov 1st Mar 31st

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

-

-

Muntjac

No close season

No close season

 

Deer stalking is becoming more and more popular and with the number of deer in the UK being at its highest rate for the last 1000 years, there is a greater need for management of the various species found across the country. Deer have no natural predators in the UK so although in some areas some species are still protected, in other areas numbers still have to be managed to prevent the spread of diseases and impact on the surrounding countryside.

There are a number of organisations and Estates across the UK that offer opportunities to experience deer stalking of which details can be found on the internet, such as –

www.viscountstalking.co.uk

www.fishing-shooting.co.uk

 

Before heading out on your planned shoot or stalking event, it is important to make sure you are properly prepared. With the majority of shooting done in autumn and winter time it is well worth investing in a well insulated, waterproof jacket that still offers great comfort and manoeuvrability that is vital when handling a gun. Our latest collection of shooting jackets includes the Barbour Sporting Featherweight Climate Jacket which is ideal for colder weather with its fleece lining and excellent freedom of movement in the shoulders.

 

For the slightly warmer days we have the popular Barbour Highmoor Wax Sporting Gilet with its large cartridge pockets and softee leather shoulder patches, another well designed item of clothing from the Barbour Sporting Range developed by Lord James Percy one of the best shots in the country.