The statutory open seasons for game birds, wildfowl and deer in Scotland, from the Scottish version of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 as amended in 2023. 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 Scotland today: Pheasant – All, Partridge – Grey and red-legged, Red grouse – All, Ptarmigan – All, Black grouse – All, Woodcock – All, Brown hare – All, Duck and geese – Inland, Duck and geese – Below high-water mark, Common snipe – All, Golden plover – All, Coot and moorhen – All, Red deer – Stags, Red deer – Hinds, Sika deer – Stags, Sika deer – Hinds, Fallow deer – Bucks, Fallow deer – Does, Roe deer – Bucks, Roe 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 | Nationwide | 1 Oct 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Partridge – Grey and red-legged | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (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). | Nationwide | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Ptarmigan – All | Nationwide | 12 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Black grouse – All | Nationwide | 20 Aug – 10 Dec 2026 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Woodcock – All 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Brown hare – All | Nationwide | 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 10A (hares, Scotland) (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). | Nationwide | 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Common snipe – All 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). | Nationwide | 12 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Golden plover – All 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Coot and moorhen – All 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). | Nationwide | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red deer – Stags No close season for male deer in Scotland since 21 October 2023 (SSI 2023/184). | Nationwide | No close season | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Red deer – Hinds Female deer close season under the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 as amended in 2023. | Nationwide | 21 Oct 2026 – 15 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Sika deer – Stags No close season for male deer in Scotland since 21 October 2023 (SSI 2023/184). Red/sika hybrids are the same. | Nationwide | No close season | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Sika deer – Hinds Female deer close season under the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 as amended in 2023. Red/sika hybrids are the same. | Nationwide | 21 Oct 2026 – 15 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Fallow deer – Bucks No close season for male deer in Scotland since 21 October 2023 (SSI 2023/184). | Nationwide | No close season | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Fallow deer – Does Female deer close season under the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 as amended in 2023. | Nationwide | 21 Oct 2026 – 15 Feb 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Roe deer – Bucks No close season for male deer in Scotland since 21 October 2023 (SSI 2023/184). | Nationwide | No close season | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Roe deer – Does Female deer close season under the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 as amended in 2023. | Nationwide | 21 Oct 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011, as amended by SSI 2023/184 (checked 2026-10-17) |
Woodcock open on 1 September in Scotland, a month before England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Brown hare have a close season in Scotland, from 1 February to 30 September.
Lead shot may not be used on or over any wetland in Scotland, not just the foreshore or listed sites.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004
Scottish deer rules allow any sight, including night sights, and an 80-grain minimum bullet that permits lead-free ammunition (since 3 November 2023).
Source: Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Order 1985, as amended by SSI 2023/332
Each species page compares Scotland with the rest of the UK and adds the rules that go with it.
Nature agency
Always confirm dates and rules with NatureScot 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, Northern Ireland · 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