Partridge season opens on 1 September everywhere in the UK and runs into the new year.
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: Partridge – Grey and red-legged, Partridge – Grey, red-legged and chukar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partridge – Grey and red-legged Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | England | 1 Sep 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Partridge – Grey and red-legged Game may not be killed or taken on a Sunday or on Christmas Day (Game Act 1831, s. 3). | Wales | 1 Sep 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3 (close seasons; Sundays and Christmas Day) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Partridge – Grey and red-legged | Scotland | 1 Sep 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (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). | Northern Ireland | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, s. 7 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
In England and Wales the Game Act close season for partridge runs from 1 February to 1 September, and game may not be shot on Sundays or Christmas Day.
Source: Game Act 1831, s. 3
In Scotland grey and red-legged partridge have been Schedule 2 quarry birds since 2011, with a close season of 2 February to 31 August.
In Northern Ireland the partridge season (including chukar and red-legged) ends on 31 January, and no game may be shot on a Sunday.
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, grouse season, woodcock and snipe season, duck and goose season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban