Red grouse shooting opens on 12 August, the Glorious Twelfth, in every part of the UK.
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: Red grouse – All, Black grouse – All, Ptarmigan – 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | England | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Black grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). In Somerset, Devon and the New Forest the season opens on 1 September. | England | 20 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Black grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | England: Somerset, Devon and the New Forest | 1 Sep – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | Wales | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Black grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | Wales | 20 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red grouse – All Since 22 July 2024 red grouse may only be shot on land with a section 16AA licence (Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024; Sch. 2 Part 1B). | Scotland | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Ptarmigan – All | Scotland | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Black grouse – All | Scotland | 20 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red grouse – All Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday, or from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (Game Preservation Act (NI) 1928, s. 7A). | Northern Ireland | 12 Aug – 30 Nov 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
Black grouse open later, on 20 August, and in Somerset, Devon and the New Forest on 1 September.
Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3
Since 22 July 2024, red grouse in Scotland may only be shot on land with a section 16AA licence.
Source: Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 commencement (SSI 2024/168)
Ptarmigan are quarry in Scotland only, with the same season as red grouse.
In Northern Ireland the red grouse season ends on 30 November, earlier than in Great Britain.
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, woodcock and snipe season, duck and goose season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban