The year, in its seasons

Check Scotland’s statutory season dates for deer, gamebirds, brown hare and listed wildfowl. Rabbit, wood pigeon, wild goats and mountain hare follow different rules. Read more about the wildlife below.

The sporting year on the Rhins

Scotland’s open seasons for every species we guide, laid out month by month. Choose a month to see what is open.

Choose a month

Deer stalking

Red deer · stagYear-round · no statutory close season
Red deer · hind21 October – 15 February
Roe deer · buckYear-round · no statutory close season
Roe deer · doe21 October – 31 March
Fallow deer · buckYear-round · no statutory close season
Fallow deer · doe21 October – 15 February

Rough shooting

Pheasant1 October – 1 February
Grey and red-legged partridge1 September – 1 February
Common snipe12 August – 31 January
Woodcock1 September – 31 January
Brown hare1 October – 31 January

Wildfowling

Listed Schedule 2 ducks and geese · inland1 September – 31 January
Listed Schedule 2 ducks and geese · below high-water mark1 September – 20 February

Statutory dates for Scotland, inclusive, reviewed 24 September 2026. They show what the law allows, not what is available on a given day. Read the full season guide

Scotland · open seasons inclusiveReviewed 24 September 2026

Open seasons show dates set by law. They do not confirm access or availability.

Deer

Species	Open season
Red deer · stag	Year-round · no statutory close season
Red deer · hind	21 October – 15 February
Roe deer · buck	Year-round · no statutory close season
Roe deer · doe	21 October – 31 March
Fallow deer · buck	Year-round · no statutory close season
Fallow deer · doe	21 October – 15 February

Small game · birds and hare

Species	Open season
Pheasant	1 October – 1 February
Grey and red-legged partridge	1 September – 1 February
Common snipe	12 August – 31 January
Woodcock	1 September – 31 January
Brown hare	1 October – 31 January

Listed ducks and geese

Species	Open season
Listed Schedule 2 ducks and geese · inland	1 September – 31 January
Listed Schedule 2 ducks and geese · below high-water mark	1 September – 20 February

The wildfowl dates apply to listed Scottish quarry species only. The guides below give species notes, legal context and sources.

Species with different rules

Species	Season or status	What to check
Rabbit	No statutory close season	Year-round management is subject to lawful rights, methods and ground arrangements.
Wood pigeon	No general sporting open season	Authorised control may be possible for specific purposes under the current licence conditions; this is not a blanket recreational season.
Wild goats	No deer-season dates	Not covered by the deer seasons above. Lawful rights, animal welfare and ground arrangements still need checking.
Mountain hare	Protected year-round	Mountain hares are fully protected in Scotland and are not an open-season quarry species.

These entries do not imply that an outing is currently available. Check the relevant rights, rules and arrangements first.

Read about species and habitats

Red deer

The red stag has a commanding presence, especially in the rut when its high call carries across the ground. Red deer are woven into Scotland’s history and imagery; seeing one in open country is a different moment from finding a deer at a woodland edge.

Roe deer

Smaller and usually more solitary, roe deer browse across a wide range of landscapes. They often use open spaces around dawn and dusk and may give a bark-like call when startled.

Fallow deer

Fallow deer favour woodland but also graze open ground in groups. For much of the year males and females remain apart, coming together in the mating season.

Wild goats

Scotland’s wild goats keep to steep, difficult ground. Their habit of using cliff edges makes finding and watching them a very different outing from a deer stalk.

Birds of field and wood

Pheasant and partridge use fields and cover. Snipe favour wetter ground, while woodcock use woodland and wood pigeon move between trees and farmland. Their different habitats help give the countryside its variety.

Ducks and geese

Galloway’s birdlife includes mallard, teal and wigeon, alongside pink-footed, greylag and Canada geese. Their movements towards feeding ground can make a flight worth waiting for and difficult to predict.

Hares and rabbits

Rabbits are often active around dawn and dusk. Brown hares favour arable land and farms with mixed crops. The mountain hare is another Scottish species, but it is protected year-round rather than part of an open-season quarry list.

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