Open Seasons

Statement by Minister Noonan on Hunting Licences for Game and Open Seasons Order 2022

The Open Season for wild bird hunting will open on 1 September 2022.

Considerable work has been undertaken by NPWS to set out a range of options available for future Open Seasons Order, and a wide ranging consultation with stakeholders and interest groups in relation to future orders will be undertaken over the coming months. While there is no doubt that this will be a challenging process, I am keen to listen to the views of all of the interested parties.

I would also remind the public that only certain species may be hunted, and only at certain times, as set out below. The hunting of deer species may only be done with a rifle and still requires a specific Deer Hunting Licence which may be applied for online at npws.ie

The species, and dates between which hunting may take place is in keeping with previous orders. Based on the information available, the number of species under conservation threat, and our legal obligations under the Birds Directive, changes in the ambit of the 2023/2024 order are very likely. In effect, this will mean the likely removal of certain species from the order. I do, however, intend consulting with the sector on these changes in advance of their application.

It is known that the conservation status of some of the species that may be hunted in Ireland is declining. In order to continue to protect and preserve the conservation status of these species, and to support sustainable hunting practices, a new way forward is required. This must be collaborative, and based on scientific evidence.

HUNTING SEASONS FOR WILD BIRDS & HARES

SPECIES	OPEN SEASON
Red Grouse	1 September to 30 September
Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Scaup, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Snipe, Jack Snipe.	1 September to 31 January
Red-Legged Partridge, Cock Pheasant, Woodcock, Woodpigeon	1 November to 31 January
Canada Geese Countrywide The counties of Cavan (exclusive of the townlands of Eonish Island, Rinn, Deramfield) and Leitrim (exclusive of the River Shannon)	1 September to 15 October 16 October to 31 January
Greylag Geese Countrywide Lady’s Island Lake, Co. Wexford and Gearagh East, Gearagh West in Co. Cork only	1 September to 15 October 16 October to 31 January
Ruddy Duck	1 September to 31 January
Hares (excluding the following townlands in Co. Wexford: North East Slob, North West Slob, Big Island, Beggerin Island and the Raven).	26 September to 28 February

HUNTING SEASONS FOR DEER SPECIES

SPECIES	OPEN SEASON	LOCATION
Red Male	1 September to 31 December	Throughout the State Excluding Co. Kerry
Red Female & Antlerless Deer *	1 November to 28 February	Throughout the State Excluding Co. Kerry
Sika Male	1 September to 31 December	Throughout the State
Sika Female & Antlerless Deer *	1 November to 28 February	Throughout the State
Fallow Male	1 September to 31 December	Throughout the State
Fallow Female & Antlerless Deer *	1 November to 28 February	Throughout the State
Muntjac Deer	1 September to 31 August	Throughout the State

*Antlerless deer will be construed as including any male deer without antlers, of less than one year, i.e. a calf.

August 25, 2022

Minister of State for Heritage welcomes dialogue on sustainable hunting of birds of conservation concern

As the Open Seasons Order allowing the hunting of birds begins on September 1^stMinister of State for Heritage at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Malcolm Noonan has issued the following statement:

“Biodiversity in Ireland (as it is globally), is coming under pressure from many different sources. Such pressures combined can have a negative impact on many species. Our wild bird populations are particularly susceptible and it is important that we fully understand how our actions and other factors cumulatively can impact on the viability of vulnerable bird species. It is essential to examine the sustainability of many of our practices given the pressure that successive generations have put on our fragile ecosystems. Our birdlife is an essential component of the natural ecosystems that we too are part of.

Therefore, I believe it is necessary for us to look again at how our practices impact on our bird populations.

As outlined in NPWS’s 2019 Article 12 report, the conservation status of a number of species which are permitted to be hunted at certain times of the year under the Open Seasons Order is declining, including Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Woodcock, Shoveler and Snipe. It’s difficult to assess the sustainability of hunting these birds as there are some gaps in the data on population size and trends and we do not have information on the numbers of birds hunted annually.

It’s clear that we need a new way forward – based on scientific evidence, collaboration and strategic action – to ensure the sustainable hunting of birds of conservation concern in Ireland. To this end, I have established a working group in NPWS to determine the next steps and to invite stakeholders to participate in a collaborative dialogue in the coming months to develop a plan for a sustainable future for these species in Ireland. In that, I want to respect fully the views of the various stakeholders and accept that some may be diametrically opposed. Nonetheless, I am keen to find common ground.

The wild bird hunting season opens on September 1^st and, like many people, I am deeply concerned at the potentially unsustainable hunting of birds of conservation concern in Ireland. By the time the season comes around next year the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the stakeholders will have concluded a paper for me on the science, the EU position and what can be done in Ireland in the short, medium and long term.”

ENDS

September 2, 2021

DEER HUNTING LICENCES UPDATE FOR 2021/2022 SEASON

The NPWS have published details of the application process for the 2021/2022 season.

Full details can be found at https://www.npws.ie/licences/hunting/deer-hunting-licences-2021-2022

Points to Note:

Application forms and further info on the 2021/22 season will be posted on 15 March 2021.
Application packs are not being sent to hunters who held a licence for 2020/2021 at this stage, but this is subject to review.
Applicants are not required to submit a signed landowner permission at this time due to current travel restrictions, but must provide all landowner permission details on the app form.
Applicants can still provide Coillte permits with their application.
Please make an application asap once the forms are available on the 15^th March.
If you are a New applicant, you must complete the application form and have permission from a landowner(s) to hunt deer on land of at least 100 acres (42 hectares). However, if you are applying to hunt deer on your own lands, the 100 acre requirement does not apply.

March 5, 2021

Know your Seasons

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

Health & Welfare: Culling

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

September 10, 2019