Hunting Seasons in France 2026
| Species / Season | Open Season | Night Hunting | Methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roe Deer Season France | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Bowhunting allowed, from June possible · Follow departmental regulations |
| Red Deer Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Rut in September/October, bowhunting possible · Cull plan and departmental rules |
| Wild Boar Season France | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Battue hunts September–January common · Follow departmental regulations, driven hunt dates |
| Fallow Deer Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Departmental regulation · Cull plan required |
| Chamois Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Alps and Pyrenees · Strict quotas, plan de chasse |
| Sika Deer France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Departmental regulation · Cull plan required |
| Mouflon Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Corsica and Cevennes · Departmental regulation |
| Fox Season France | 09/01 – 03/31 | no | rifle | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Earth stopping allowed · Departmental regulation |
| Badger Season France | 09/15 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Traditional earth stopping · Departmental regulation |
| Pine Marten Season France | 11/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Fur hunting, trapping possible · National hunting law |
| Stone Marten Season France | 11/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Common near settlements · Hunting law |
| Polecat Season France | 11/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Rarely hunted · Hunting law |
| European Hare Season France | 09/15 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Driven and stand hunting · Hunting law, population dependent |
| Wild Rabbit Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Autumn/winter · Hunting law |
| Coypu Season France | year-round | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Invasive species, waterway damage · Year-round, no closed season |
| Marmot Season France | 09/01 – 11/15 | no | rifle | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Alps, departmental regulation · Quota system |
| Pheasant Season France | 09/01 – 02/01 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Driven and stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Grey Partridge Season | 09/01 – 11/30 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Driven hunt, shotgun · Population dependent, declining numbers |
| Red-legged Partridge Season | 09/01 – 11/30 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Driven hunt, shotgun · Conservation measures |
| Woodcock Season France | 10/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Dusk hunting, shotgun · Hunting law, EU Birds Directive |
| Mallard Season France | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Most common duck, shotgun · Hunting law, daily bag limit |
| Teal Season France | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Smallest duck species, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Greylag Goose Season France | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Goose flighting, shotgun/rifle · Hunting law |
| Wood Pigeon Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Decoying and stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Carrion Crow Season France | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Decoying, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Magpie Season | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Decoying and stand · Hunting law |
| Jay Season | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Stand and decoying · Hunting law |
| Coot Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Shotgun, waterside hunting · Hunting law |
| Snipe Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Bog hunting, shotgun · EU Birds Directive |
| Collared Dove Season | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Wigeon Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Gadwall Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Pintail Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Tufted Duck Season | 08/25 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| White-fronted Goose Season | 10/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle, bow | Hunting dates vary by département. Check the prefectural decree. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Wild Boar Season Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (ARA) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Driven hunts from September, Alpine region and Rhone valley · Check prefectural decrees |
| Roe Deer Season Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (ARA) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Bowhunting from June, rifle varies by departement from September · Plan de chasse mandatory |
| Chamois Season Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (ARA) | 09/01 – 12/31 | no | rifle | Alps, strict quotas, mountain hunting from September · Plan de chasse, quota system |
| Woodcock Season Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (ARA) | 10/15 – 01/20 | no | rifle | Mountain forests and valley floors, shotgun, PMA reporting mandatory · PMA mandatory, 30 per season |
| Wild Boar Season Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (BFC) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Densely forested region, high boar population, battue from October · Departmental decrees |
| Red Deer Season Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (BFC) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Rut September/October, strong population in forest areas · Plan de chasse mandatory |
| Roe Deer Season Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (BFC) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Bowhunting from June, rifle from September, Burgundy forests · Plan de chasse |
| Wild Boar Season Brittany (BRE) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Growing population, battue September-January, coastal region · Crop damage control possible |
| Woodcock Season Brittany (BRE) | 10/10 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Major wintering area, high migrant density, PMA · PMA mandatory, 30 per season |
| Mallard Season Brittany (BRE) | 08/20 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Coastal wetlands, shotgun, earlier start than national average · Daily bag limit applies |
| Wild Boar Season Centre-Val de Loire (CVL) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Cereal farming area, crop damage issues, battue from September · Prefectural decrees |
| Roe Deer Season Centre-Val de Loire (CVL) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Open landscape and forests, Loire valley · Plan de chasse |
| Red Deer Season Centre-Val de Loire (CVL) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Sologne and Cher forests, rut from September · Plan de chasse mandatory |
| Wild Boar Season Corsica (COR) | 08/15 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | High population in Corsica, maquis landscape, battue tradition · Corsican regulations |
| Mouflon Season Corsica (COR) | 09/15 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Endemic population, Bavella and Cinto massifs, strict quotas · Very limited permits, reserves |
| Woodcock Season Corsica (COR) | 10/20 – 01/20 | no | rifle | Short season in Corsica, maquis hunting, PMA · PMA mandatory |
| Wild Boar Season Grand Est (GES) | 08/01 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Early start from August, Vosges and Ardennes, very high population · Prefectural decrees, damage control |
| Red Deer Season Grand Est (GES) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Vosges, Ardennes and Champagne, rut September-October · Strict cull plan |
| Roe Deer Season Grand Est (GES) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Bowhunting from June, rifle from September, Alsace tradition · Plan de chasse |
| Wild Boar Season Hauts-de-France (HDF) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Picardy forests, battue October-January, crop damage · Departmental regulations |
| Roe Deer Season Hauts-de-France (HDF) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Open farmland and forests, from June with bow · Plan de chasse |
| Mallard Season Hauts-de-France (HDF) | 08/20 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Baie de Somme, major waterfowl area, hutte hunting · Daily bag, hutte hunting regulated |
| Wild Boar Season Ile-de-France (IDF) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Peri-urban hunting, Rambouillet and Fontainebleau forests · Strict safety rules, battue dates |
| Roe Deer Season Ile-de-France (IDF) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | State forests, restricted access, plan de chasse · State forest rules |
| Red Deer Season Ile-de-France (IDF) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Rambouillet, Fontainebleau, rut September-October · Strict cull plan |
| Wild Boar Season Normandy (NOR) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Growing population, battue from September, Norman bocage · Prefectural decrees |
| Roe Deer Season Normandy (NOR) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Bocage and forests, from June with bow, rich territory · Plan de chasse |
| Woodcock Season Normandy (NOR) | 10/10 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Major migration area, coastal Normandy, PMA mandatory · PMA, 30 per season |
| Wild Boar Season Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NAQ) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Landes forests, Dordogne, battue tradition, high population · Prefectural decrees |
| Roe Deer Season Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NAQ) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Large forest areas, Landes and Perigord, from June · Plan de chasse |
| Wood Pigeon Season Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NAQ) | 10/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Palombieres tradition, autumn migration over Pyrenees, from October · Traditional capture methods regulated |
| Wild Boar Season Occitanie (OCC) | 08/01 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | Early start from August, Pyrenees to Mediterranean, high population · Prefectural decrees, damage control |
| Roe Deer Season Occitanie (OCC) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Diverse habitats, Pyrenean foothills to garrigue · Plan de chasse |
| Red-legged Partridge Season Occitanie (OCC) | 09/01 – 12/15 | no | rifle | Garrigue and Causses, traditional hunting, shotgun · Conservation, quota |
| Wild Boar Season Pays de la Loire (PDL) | 09/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Bocage and wetlands, battue from October · Prefectural decrees |
| Roe Deer Season Pays de la Loire (PDL) | 06/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle, bow | Vendee bocage and Loire banks, from June · Plan de chasse |
| Mallard Season Pays de la Loire (PDL) | 08/20 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Loire estuary, wetlands, important duck area · Daily bag limit |
| Wild Boar Season Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PAC) | 08/15 – 03/31 | no | rifle, bow | High population, garrigue to Alps, battue September-January · Prefectural decrees, damage control |
| Chamois Season Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PAC) | 09/01 – 12/31 | no | rifle | Southern Alps, Mercantour, strict quotas, mountain hunting · Plan de chasse, quota system |
| Red-legged Partridge Season Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PAC) | 09/01 – 12/31 | no | rifle | Garrigue and Provence hills, traditional hunting, shotgun · Conservation measures |
| Woodcock Season Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PAC) | 10/20 – 01/20 | no | rifle | Mediterranean forests, short season, PMA · PMA mandatory, 30 per season |
Note: Summary from the HuntKit hunting seasons database (as of 2026-08-02). Seasons may vary regionally and change at short notice — the official regulations of the respective country/state prevail. Not legal advice.
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