Duck and goose seasons open on 1 September; below high-water mark in Great Britain they run three weeks longer than inland.
The table compares England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. Dates are the statutory open seasons, each linked to its source, last checked 2026-10-17.
Open in the UK today: Duck and geese – Inland, Duck and geese – Below high-water mark, Duck and geese – All.
Status is worked out from the statutory dates each day. Always confirm on the official agency page before you go out.
| Species | Country | Dates | Bag | Status | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duck and geese – Inland Quarry species: Mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, pochard, shoveler, tufted duck, goldeneye; Canada, greylag and pink-footed geese; white-fronted goose except the Greenland race (Sch. 2 Part I). Sunday shooting of these birds can be banned by order in specified areas of England and Wales (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3)). Check locally. | England | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – Below high-water mark In or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides. Same quarry species as inland. Sunday shooting of these birds can be banned by order in specified areas of England and Wales (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3)). Check locally. | England | 1 Sep 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – Inland Quarry species: Mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, pochard, shoveler, tufted duck, goldeneye; Canada, greylag and pink-footed geese; white-fronted goose except the Greenland race (Sch. 2 Part I). Sunday shooting of these birds can be banned by order in specified areas of England and Wales (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3)). Check locally. | Wales | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – Below high-water mark In or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides. Same quarry species as inland. Sunday shooting of these birds can be banned by order in specified areas of England and Wales (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3)). Check locally. | Wales | 1 Sep 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – Inland Quarry species: Mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, pochard, shoveler, tufted duck, goldeneye; Canada, greylag and pink-footed geese. White-fronted goose is quarry in England and Wales only. May not be killed or taken on Sundays or Christmas Day in Scotland (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3) and Sch. 2 Part IA). | Scotland | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – Below high-water mark In or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides. May not be killed or taken on Sundays or Christmas Day in Scotland (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2(3) and Sch. 2 Part IA). | Scotland | 1 Sep 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Duck and geese – All Quarry species: mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, pochard, shoveler, tufted duck, goldeneye, scaup; Canada, greylag and pink-footed geese. One season inland and on the foreshore. | Northern Ireland | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 4 and Sch. 2 (checked 2026-10-17) |
In Great Britain wild duck and geese in or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides have a close season of 21 February to 31 August, so the foreshore season runs to 20 February.
Greenland white-fronted geese are protected in England and Wales; white-fronted geese are not quarry in Scotland.
In England, lead shot may not be used below high-water mark, over listed SSSIs, or at ducks, geese, coot, moorhen, golden plover or common snipe anywhere.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999
In Scotland, lead shot may not be used on or over any wetland.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004
From 1 April 2029, shot with 1% or more lead may not be used or sold in England, Wales or Scotland.
See registered land boundaries, protected sites, open access land and season dates on an offline map in the HuntScout app. A boundary on the map is never permission to shoot.
Seasons by country: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland · all UK shooting seasons
By species: pheasant season, partridge season, grouse season, woodcock and snipe season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban