Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

2 Exceptions to s. 1. E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person shall not be guilty of an offence under section 1 by reason of the killing or taking of a bird included in Part I of Schedule 2 outside the close season for that bird, or the injuring of such a bird outside that season in the course of an attempt to kill it.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, an authorised person shall not be guilty of an offence under section 1 by reason of—

(a) the killing or taking of a bird included in Part II of Schedule 2, or the injuring of such a bird in the course of an attempt to kill it;

(b) the taking, damaging or destruction of a nest of such a bird; or

(c) the taking or destruction of an egg of such a bird.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply in Scotland on Sundays or on Christmas Day; and subsection (1) shall not apply on Sundays in any area of England and Wales which the Secretary of State may by order prescribe for the purposes of that subsection.

(4) In this section and section 1 “close season” means—

(a) in the case of capercaillie and (except in Scotland) woodcock, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 30th September;

(b) in the case of snipe, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 11th August;

(c) in the case of wild duck and wild geese in or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides, the period in any year commencing with 21st February and ending with 31st August;

(d) in any other case, subject to the provisions of this Part, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 31st August.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order made with respect to the whole or any specified part of Great Britain vary the close season for any wild bird specified in the order.

(6) If it appears to the Secretary of State expedient that any wild birds included in Part II of Schedule 1 or Part I of Schedule 2 should be protected during any period outside the close season for those birds, he may by order made with respect to the whole or any specified part of Great Britain declare any period (which shall not in the case of any order exceed fourteen days) as a period of special protection for those birds; and this section and section 1 shall have effect as if any period of special protection declared under this subsection for any birds formed part of the close season for those birds.

(7) Before making an order under subsection (6) the Secretary of State shall consult a person appearing to him to be a representative of persons interested in the shooting of birds of the kind proposed to be protected by the order.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S.2(6): Functions transferred (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C2 S. 2(6) functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))

2 Exceptions to s. 1[F2 : acts by certain persons outside close season]. S

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section [F3 where subsection (1A) applies], a person shall not be guilty of an offence under section 1 by reason of the killing or taking of a bird included in Part I of Schedule 2 outside the close season for that bird, or the injuring of such a bird outside that season in the course of an attempt to kill it.

[F4 (1A) This subsection applies where—

(a) whatever the kind of bird in question—

(i) the person who killed or injured it had a legal right, or permission, to kill such a bird; or

(ii) the person who took it had a legal right, or permission, to take such a bird; and

(b) in the case of a bird included in Part 1B of Schedule 2—

(i) an owner or occupier of the land on which the bird was killed, injured or taken held an unsuspended section 16AA licence; or

(ii) the person who killed, injured or took the bird reasonably believed that an owner or occupier held an unsuspended section 16AA licence in relation to that land.

(1B) In subsection (1A), “permission” means permission from a person who has a right to give it.

(1C) Where subsection (1D) applies, a person does not commit an offence under section 1 by reason of killing or taking a bird included in Part 1B of Schedule 2 outside the close season for that bird, or the injuring of such a bird outside that season in the course of an attempt to kill it.

(1D) This subsection applies where—

(a) the bird was killed or taken through the use of a bird of prey, or injured in an attempt to do so,

(b) either—

(i) the person who killed or injured it had a legal right, or permission, to kill such a bird, or

(ii) the person who took it had a legal right, or permission, to take such a bird, and

(c) in the case where the person subsequently killed the injured bird, the person took all reasonable steps to kill it in a way that caused it the minimum possible suffering.]

(2) F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) [F6 Subsection (1)] shall not apply in Scotland on Sundays or on Christmas Day [F7 in relation to those birds included in Part I of Schedule 2 which are also included in Part IA of that Schedule]; and subsection (1) shall not apply on Sundays in any area of England and Wales which the Secretary of State may by order prescribe for the purposes of that subsection.

[F8 (3A) Subject to the provisions of this section, where subsection (3B) applies a person does not commit an offence under section 1 by reason of the taking for the purposes of breeding of—

(a) a partridge or pheasant included in Part I of Schedule 2; or

(b) an egg of such a bird.

(3B) This subsection applies where—

(a) the person who takes does so during the period of 28 days commencing with the first day of the close season for the bird; and

(b) the person who takes had—

(i) a legal right to take such a bird; or

(ii) permission, from a person who had a right to give permission, to take such a bird.

(3C) A person does not commit an offence under section 1 by reason of the taking of a red grouse if—

(a) the grouse is taken—

(i) for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease; and

(ii) with the intention of releasing it from captivity after no more than 12 hours; F9 ...

(b) the person had—

(i) a legal right to take such a grouse; or

(ii) permission, from a person who had a right to give permission, to take such a grouse.] [F10 ; and

(c) either—

(i) an owner or occupier of the land on which the bird was taken held an unsuspended section 16AA licence in relation to the land; or

(ii) the person reasonably believed that an owner or occupier held an unsuspended section 16AA licence in relation to that land.]

(4) In [F11 section 1, this section and section 6] “close season” means—

(a) in the case of [F12 capercaillie and] (except in Scotland) woodcock, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 30th September;

(b) in the case of snipe, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 11th August;

[F13 (ba) in the case of pheasant, the period in any year commencing with 2nd February and ending with 30th September;

(bb) in the case of partridge, the period in any year commencing with 2nd February and ending with 31st August;]

(c) in the case of wild duck and wild geese in or over any area below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides, the period in any year commencing with 21st February and ending with 31st August;

[F14 (ca) in the case of black grouse, the period commencing with 11th December in any year and ending with 19th August in the following year;

(cb) in the case of ptarmigan and red grouse, the period commencing with 11th December in any year and ending with 11th August in the following year;]

(d) in any other case, subject to the provisions of this Part, the period in any year commencing with 1st February and ending with 31st August.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order made with respect to the whole or any specified part of Great Britain vary the close season for any wild bird specified in the order.

(6) If it appears to the Secretary of State expedient that any wild birds included in Part II of Schedule 1 or Part I of Schedule 2 should be protected during any period outside the close season for those birds, he may by order made with respect to the whole or any specified part of Great Britain declare any period (which shall not in the case of any order exceed fourteen days) as a period of special protection for those birds; and [F15 section 1, this section and section 6] shall have effect as if any period of special protection declared under this subsection for any birds formed part of the close season for those birds.

(7) Before making an order under subsection (6) the Secretary of State shall consult [F16 such persons] appearing to him to be a representative of persons interested in the shooting of birds of the kind proposed to be protected by the order [F17 as he considers appropriate].

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 2 title added (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(a), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F3 Words in s. 2(1) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(b), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F4 S. 2(1A)-(1D) substituted for s. 2(1A) (S.) (22.7.2024) by Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 4), ss. 9(2)(a), 35(2) (with s. 30); S.S.I. 2024/168, sch. Pt. 2

F5 S. 2(2) repealed (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 3(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2

F6 Words in s. 2(3) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 3(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2

F7 Words in s. 2(3) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(d), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F8 S. 2 inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(e), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F9 Word in s. 2(3C)(a)(ii) repealed (S.) (22.7.2024) by Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 4), ss. 9(2)(b)(i), 35(2) (with s. 30); S.S.I. 2024/168, sch. Pt. 2

F10 S. 2(3C)(c) and word inserted (S.) (22.7.2024) by Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 4), ss. 9(2)(b)(ii), 35(2) (with s. 30); S.S.I. 2024/168, sch. Pt. 2

F11 Words in s. 2(4) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 5(2)(a), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(c)

F12 Words in s. 2(4)(a) omitted (S.) (4.11.2001) by virtue of S.S.I. 2001/337, reg. 2(2)

F13 S. 2(4)(ba)(bb) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(f)(i), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F14 S. 2(4)(ca)(cb) inserted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(f)(ii), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F15 Words in s. 2(6) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 5(2)(b), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(c)

F16 Words in s. 2(7) substituted (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(g)(i), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

F17 Words in s. 2(7) added (S.) (29.6.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 3(4)(g)(ii), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(1)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 2(6) functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))