Woodcock opens a month earlier in Scotland than elsewhere, and common snipe opens on 12 August in Great Britain.
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: Woodcock – All, Common snipe – All, Snipe – 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcock – All | England | 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Common snipe – All Common snipe only; jack snipe is not on Sch. 2 Part I. | England | 12 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Woodcock – All | Wales | 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (close seasons) (checked 2026-10-17) |
| Common snipe – All Common snipe only; jack snipe is not on Sch. 2 Part I. | Wales | 12 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | 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). | Scotland | 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Jan 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). | Scotland | 12 Aug 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | — | Open now | — | Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s. 2 (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). | Northern Ireland | 1 Oct 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). | 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 woodcock close season is 1 February to 30 September; in Scotland it falls under the general close season of 1 February to 31 August.
Only common snipe is a quarry bird in Great Britain; jack snipe is not on Schedule 2.
In Scotland woodcock and snipe may not be shot on Sundays or Christmas Day.
In Northern Ireland woodcock and snipe are game birds, so the Sunday and night bans on game apply.
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, duck and goose season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban