Birds which may be hunted

Game birds and some other species, mainly wildfowl, are protected during a close, or closed, season so they can breed undisturbed but may be hunted during the rest of the year. 

The main shooting seasons in Scotland

Red grouse

August 12 - December 10

Ptarmigan

August 12 - December 10

Common snipe

August 12 - January 31

Black grouse

August 20 - December 10

Woodcock

September 1 - January 31

Partridge

September 1 - February 1

Pheasant

October 1 - February 1

Birds on Schedule 2

September 1st - January 31st*

 

* For wild duck & geese on Schedule 2, the season extends until February 20th below the high water-mark only.

There are controls on the types of gun and other methods that can be used to kill or take these birds. There are also significant differences in the law between Scotland and the rest of the UK, for example there are more restrictions on shooting on Sundays in Scotland.

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