The hunting season for birds and mammals has opened in Ireland.
The Open Seasons Order (Birds) and (Mammals) list the bird and mammal species that can be hunted by individuals, and at organised hunting meetings.
From the 1st of August onwards, birds and animals can be hunted using firearms, packs of harrier and beagle hounds, and at regulated hare coursing meetings. The Open Seasons Orders sets out the hunting season dates and areas of the country that legal hunting can take place.
The Open Seasons Order (Birds)
The bird species that can be hunted using firearms though out the State are:
Red Grouse can be hunted from the 1st September to the 30th September 2026.
Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Golden Plover, Snipe and Jack Snipe can be hunted from the 1st September to the 31st January 2027.
Red-legged Partridge can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st January 2027.
Cock Pheasant can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st January 2027.
Woodcock can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st January 2027.
Woodpigeon can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st January 2027.
Canada goose can be hunted from the 1st September 2026 to the 15th October 2026 throughout the State, and from the 16th of October to the 31st January 2027 in Co. Cavan (exclusive of the townlands of Eonish Island, Rinn, Deramfield), and Co. Leitrim (exclusive of the River Shannon).
Greylag goose can be hunted from the 1st September 2026 to 15th October 2026 throughout the State, and from the 16th of October to the 31st January 2027 in Co. Wexford (Lady’s Island) and in Co. Cork (Gearagh East and Gearagh West)
Ruddy Duck can be hunted from the 1st September to the 31st January 2027.
From hunting pen-reared birds, hen pheasant and partridge a licence is required.
The hunting season for these birds runs from 1st November 2026 to 15th February 2027 for hen-pheasant and from 1st September 2026 to 31st January 2027 for partridge.
The Open Seasons Order (Mammals)
The mammal species that can be hunted using firearms, packs of harriers and beagle hounds, and at regulated hare coursing meetings throughout the State are:
Male Fallow Deer can be hunted from 1st August 2026 to the 30th April 2027.
Female and Antlerless Fallow Deer can be hunted from the 1st November to the 31st March 2027.
Male Sika Deer can be hunted from the 1st August 2026 to the 30th April 2027
Female and Antlerless Sika Deer can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st March 2027.
Male Red Deer can be hunted from the 1st August 2026 to the 30th April 2027 throughout the State.
Female and Antlerless Red Deer can be hunted from the 1st November 2026 to the 31st March 2027.
However, no red deer (male. female, and antlerless) hunting is permitted in Co. Kerry.
Muntjac Deer can be hunted from the 1st September 2026 to the 31st August 2027.
Deer hunters state that antlerless deer will be construed as including any male deer without antlers, of less than one year, i.e. a calf.
Hares can be hunted from the 26th September 2026 to the 28th February 2027. They can be shot, hunted with packs of harriers and beagles hounds, and can be coursed at regulated coursing meeting.
The hare coursing season starts when the licences to net and tag hares is issued and goes from the 7th August 2026 to the 28th February 2027.
Hare coursing meetings in an enclosed setting start from the 26th September 2026 to the 28th February 2027. Meetings follow a fixture list and are run over a twenty-three week period.
Hunting Season Killing
Animal welfare groups are demanding an immediate end to the Open Seasons Order to protect Ireland’s birds and mammals from destruction. They said that a ban on live hare coursing, deer, and bird shooting would be a step forward for genuine conservation in Ireland.
View: Opens Seasons Order – 2026/2027
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