Fieldsports seasons in Ireland
Planning a trip to the Emerald Isle? Here are the gamebird and deer seasons you must know about
Don’t assume that game seasons in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are the same. They are different in many cases. Check below for the dates when you can go out in the field after different quarry with our guide to fieldsports shooting seasons in Ireland.
Red Grouse
Northern Ireland: Aug 12- Nov 30
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Sep 30
Common Snipe
Northern Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Grey partridge
Grey Partridge
Northern Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: N/A
Red legged partridge
Red-legged Partridge
Northern Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: Nov 1 – Jan 31
Mallard drake
Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Scaup, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Jack Snipe, Ruddy Duck
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Golden plover
Golden Plover
Northern Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Jan 31
Coot
Coot/Moorhen
Northern Ireland: Protected
Pheasant
Pheasant
Northern Ireland: Oct 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: Nov 1 – Jan 31 (cocks only)
Woodcock*
Northern Ireland: Oct 1 – Jan 31
Republic of Ireland: Nov 1 – Jan 31
*For the latest guidelines on shooting woodcock check the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) website here. In fact, some shoots will ask you not to shoot woodcock at all.
Dates for UK game shooting seasons
The pheasant, partridge and grouse shooting seasons are now open and it’s not long until the season opens for some…
Deer seasons in the UK. When can deer be hunted?
The deer seasons in the UK have been precisely organised to give deer protection when they need it, to produce…
Open seasons for deer
Here is our list of open seasons for the various species of deer when you can go out stalking. (Dates…
Northern Ireland
- All wild birds are protected on Sundays and Christmas Day.
- Wild birds may not be shot between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
Red stag
Red deer
Northern Ireland: Aug 1 – Apr 30 (males); Nov 1 – Mar 3 (females
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Dec 31 (males) exclusive of County Kerry; Nov 1 – Feb 29 (females)
Fallow deer buck
Fallow deer
Northern Ireland: Aug 1 – Apr 30 (males); Nov 1 – Mar 31 (females)
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Dec 31 (males) exclusive of County Kerry; Nov 1 – Feb 29 (females)
Male sika deer
Sika deer
Northern Ireland: Aug 1 – Apr 30 (males); Nov 1 – Mar 31 (females)
Republic of Ireland: Sep 1 – Dec 31 (males); Nov 1 – Feb 28/29 (females
Roe deer
Northern Ireland: Apr 1 – Oct 31 (males); Nov 1 – Mar 31 (females)
