Game Act 1831

The Game Act 1831 (1 & 2 Will. 4. c. 32) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which was passed to protect game birds by establishing a close season during which they could not be legally taken. The Act also established the need for game licences and the appointing of gamekeepers. It has covered the protection of game birds to this day.

Game covered
The Game Act designated certain species as game birds and their open season, when they may be shot:


 * Red grouse (Moor Game), 12 August – 10 December
 * Black grouse (Black Game), 20 August – 10 December
 * Pheasant, 1 October – 1 February
 * Partridge, 1 September – 1 February

As well as adhering to the seasons, game may not be taken on Sundays or Christmas Day.

The great bustard was protected under this Act, with its open season decided as 1 September to 1 March. This protection was little use, however, as the great bustard became extinct in Great Britain in the 1830s. It is currently part of a reintroduction programme.

Capercaillie are not protected in this Act, as they were extinct in Britain at the time. They were reintroduced to Scotland in 1837.

Brown hares are mentioned in the act but have no closed season. Two Hares Acts were passed in the 19th century. The first, in 1848, removed the requirement for a game certificate for occupiers to kill hares, regulated where hunting could take place, and the banned of baiting with poison. The second, in 1892, among other things, prohibited the sale of hare meat between March and July, which is the animals' breeding season.

Game licences
The Act made it lawful to take game only with the provision of a game licence. Also, it made an excise licence necessary to deal with game. Game licences were abolished in England and Wales on 1 August 2007, as well as the need for game dealers licences, and the law changed to allow selling game, except hare, year round. In Northern Ireland, game licences and game dealing licences were abolished on 13 June 2011. In Scotland, game licences and game dealing licences were abolished on 29 June 2011.

Gamekeepers
The Act listed requirements on the appointment of gamekeepers and on the issuing of a gamekeepers licence on an estate.

Other birds
Although it is not included in this Act, a game licence was required to shoot woodcock and common snipe until 1 August 2007. Wildfowl are protected and their close seasons are stated in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.