The statutory open seasons for game birds, wildfowl and deer in Northern Ireland, from the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Every row links to the legislation it was read from, last checked 2026-10-17.
An open season is not permission: shooting always needs the landowner's permission.
Open in Northern Ireland today: Pheasant – All, Partridge – Grey, red-legged and chukar, Red grouse – All, Woodcock – All, Hare – All, Snipe – All, Duck and geese – All, Golden plover – All, Red deer – Stags, Sika deer – Stags, Fallow deer – Bucks. Opening soon: Red deer – Hinds, Sika deer – Hinds, Fallow deer – Does.
Status is worked out from the statutory dates each day. Always confirm on the official agency page before you go out.
| Species | Area | Dates | Bag | Status | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant – 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). | Nationwide | 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Partridge – Grey, red-legged and chukar 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (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). | Nationwide | 12 Aug – 30 Nov 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Woodcock – 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). | Nationwide | 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Hare – 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). | Nationwide | 12 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Snipe – 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (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. | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 4 and Sch. 2 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Golden plover – All | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 4 and Sch. 2 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red deer – Stags No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Aug 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red deer – Hinds No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 | — | Opens soon | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Sika deer – Stags No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Aug 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Sika deer – Hinds No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 | — | Opens soon | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Fallow deer – Bucks No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Aug 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Fallow deer – Does No deer may be killed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise (Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, art. 19(2)). Hybrids have the same seasons as the species. | Nationwide | 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 | — | Opens soon | — | Source: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, art. 19 and Sch. 10 (checked 2026-10-17) |
Red grouse close on 30 November in Northern Ireland, ten days before Great Britain.
Hare have an open season from 12 August to 31 January, and count as game for the Sunday and night bans.
No deer may be killed, injured or taken between the end of the first hour after sunset and the start of the last hour before sunrise, or shot at from a vehicle.
Lead shot may not be used on or over wetlands. The 2029 UK lead ammunition ban does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Each species page compares Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK and adds the rules that go with it.
Nature agency
Always confirm dates and rules with DAERA before you go out.
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 · all UK shooting seasons
By species: pheasant season, partridge season, grouse season, woodcock and snipe season, duck and goose season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban