Wild game birds may be hunted at certain times of the year. The full list of species types which may be hunted is provided in the Table below. There are certain areas throughout the country where the hunting of these game birds is not permitted. These exclusion zones or Wildfowl Sanctuaries as they are more commonly referred are at 68 different locations throughout the state. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has recently removed the species Curlew from this list due to the current conservation concerns with that species. Further details are available in the Wildlife (Wild Birds) (open Seasons) Orders 1979 to 2012. (S.I 402 of 2012 – Birds 
133KB).
| WILD BIRDS | OPEN SEASON | PLACES IN THE STATE |
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
| Red Grouse | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 30 September in the same year. | Throughout the State. |
| Mallard
Teal Gadwall Wigeon Pintail Shoveler Scaup Tufted Duck Pochard Goldeneye Golden Plover Snipe Jack Snipe |
The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year. | Throughout the State. |
| Red-legged Partridge | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year. | Throughout the State. |
| Cock Pheasant Woodcock | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year. | Throughout the State. |
| Woodpigeon | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on 31 January immediately following that year. | Throughout the State. |
| Canada Goose | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 15 October in the same year. | Throughout the State. |
| Canada Goose | The period beginning 16 October in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year. | The counties of Cavan (exclusive of the townlands of Eonish Island, Rinn, Deramfield) and Leitrim (exclusive of the River Shannon). |
| Greylag Goose | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 15 October in the same year. | Throughout the State. |
| Greylag Goose | The period beginning 16 October in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year. | Lady’s Island, in the county of Wexford Gearagh East & Gearagh West, in the county of Cork. |
| Ruddy Duck | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 31 January in the year immediately following that year.
|
Throughout the State. |
Certain wild mammals, including some deer species and hares, may be hunted at certain times of the year. The full list of species types which may be hunted, including locations, is provided in the Table below. There are certain areas throughout the country where the hunting of these species is not permitted. Only the manner of hunting described in the table below is allowed. Deer Hunters must be in possession of a valid Deer Hunting Licence. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has recently removed female and antlerless red deer in County Kerry from the list of mammal species which may be hunted. Further details are available in the Wildlife (Wild Mammals) (Open Seasons) Orders 2005 to 2012. (S.I 398 of 2012 – Mammals 111KB).
| Species of Wild Mammal | Hunting Period | Manner of Hunting | Places in the State |
| Fallow Deer (Male) | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 31 December of that same year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State. |
| Fallow Deer (Female and Antlerless) | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on the last day of February in the year immediately following that year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State. |
| Sika Deer (Male) | The period beginning 1 September in each year and ending on 31 December of that same year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State. |
| Sika Deer (Female and Antlerless | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on the last day of February in the year immediately following that year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State. |
| Red Deer (Male) | The period beginning on the 1 September in each year and ending on 31 December of that same year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State exclusive of the county of Kerry. |
| Red Deer (Female and Antlerless) | The period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on the last day of February in the year immediately following that year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State exclusive of the county of Kerry. |
| Muntjac Deer | The period beginning on the 1st day of September in each year and ending on the 31st day of August in the year immediately following that year. | Shooting with firearms. | Throughout the State. |
| Hares | The period beginning on the 26th day of September in each year and ending on the 28th day of February in the year immediately following that year. | Shooting with firearms; coursing at regulated coursing matches; hunting with packs of beagles and harriers. | Throughout the state exclusive of the townlands of North East Slob, North West Slob, Big Island, Beggerin Island and The Raven, in the county of Wexford. |
Review of the Open Seasons Order for Deer
Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has commenced a review of the Open Season Order for deer species. As part of the review, a public consultation process is underway whereby interested parties are been asked for their views.
Below is a Consultation Document and associated scientific documents relating to the review. Please note that some of these documents have been updated (November 2012) to reflect final versions. The National Parks and Wildlife service invites submissions from interested members of the public and organisations. Submissions should be sent by email to [email protected] or by post to
Species Protection Unit
National Parks and Wildlife Service
90 North King Street
Dublin 7
D07 N7CV
The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday 14 December 2012
Review of the Open Seasons Order for Deer – Consultation Document – Revised November 2012
Mammal Review – Distribution and Range expansion of Deer in Ireland – Final published version
Quaternary Science Review – Final published version