Game Act 1831
Encyclopedia
The Game Act 1831 is an Act of Parliament
in the United Kingdom which was passed to protect game birds by establishing a close season when they could not be legally taken. The act also established the need for game licences and the appointing of gamekeeper
s. The act still covers the protection of game birds to this day.
As well as adhering to the seasons, game may not be taken on Sundays or Christmas Day.
Interestingly, the Great Bustard
was protected under this act, with its open season decided as 1 September – 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 program.
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 also protected under this act but have no closed season, but the Hares Act prohibits the sale of hare in the breeding season.
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The Game Licence was abolished in England & Wales on 1 August 2007, as well as the need for game dealers licences and the law changed to make selling game, except hare, year round legal. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/07/13/eagame113.xml In Scotland, it is still necessary to have a game licence to shoot game.
and Common Snipe
until 1 August 2007. Wildfowl are protected and their close seasons stated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in the United Kingdom which was passed to protect game birds by establishing a close season when they could not be legally taken. The act also established the need for game licences and the appointing of gamekeeper
Gamekeeper
A gamekeeper is a person who manages an area of countryside to make sure there is enough game for shooting, or fish for angling, and who actively manages areas of woodland, moorland, waterway or farmland for the benefit of game birds, deer, fish and wildlife in general.Typically, a gamekeeper is...
s. The act still covers the protection of game birds to this day.
Game covered by the Game Acts
The Game Act designated certain species as game birds, and their open season (when they may be shot):- Red GrouseRed grouseThe Red Grouse is a medium sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus...
(Moor Game), 12 August – 10 December - Black GrouseBlack GrouseThe Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
(Black Game), 20 August – 10 December - PheasantCommon PheasantThe Common Pheasant , is a bird in the pheasant family . It is native to Georgia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe , it is simply known as the "pheasant"...
, 1 October – 1 February - PartridgeGrey PartridgeThe Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix, also known as the English Partridge, Hungarian Partridge, or Hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds...
, 1 September – 1 February
As well as adhering to the seasons, game may not be taken on Sundays or Christmas Day.
Interestingly, the Great Bustard
Great Bustard
The Great Bustard is in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Otis. It breeds in southern and central Europe, where it is the largest species of bird, and across temperate Asia...
was protected under this act, with its open season decided as 1 September – 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 program.
Capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
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 also protected under this act but have no closed season, but the Hares Act prohibits the sale of hare in the breeding season.
Game licences
The act made it lawful to take game only with the provision of a game licence. Also, to deal in game the act made an excise licence necessary. http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/game-licences.htmGamekeepers
The act listed requirements on the appointment of gamekeepers, and the issuing of a gamekeepers licence on an estate.Other birds
Although not included in this act, a game licence was required to shoot WoodcockEurasian Woodcock
The Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, is a medium-small wading bird found in temperate and subarctic Eurasia. It has cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with reddish-brown upperparts and buff-coloured underparts...
and Common Snipe
Common Snipe
The Common Snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia...
until 1 August 2007. Wildfowl are protected and their close seasons stated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom and was implemented to comply with the Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds...
.