Hunting and shooting wildlife

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Birds

You can shoot certain species of game birds, quarry birds and waterfowl but only during the shooting season.

Sometimes you can only shoot in certain locations, for example you can’t shoot some waterfowl above the high water line.

You can’t shoot birds in the closed season.

You must get a falconry licence to hunt birds with a falcon.

Equipment

If you’re using a shotgun to shoot birds, the internal diameter of the shotgun can’t be more than 1.75 inches.

You can’t use:

  • a firearm that can hold more than 2 rounds of ammunition in the magazine (such as an automatic or semi-automatic weapon)
  • artificial lighting
  • a sighting device for night shooting, or a device for lighting up targets