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 Act 1831^[a]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the Laws in England relative to Game.
Citation	1 & 2 Will. 4. c. 32
Territorial extent	nothing in this Act contained shall extend to Scotland or Ireland[b]
Dates
Royal assent	5 October 1831
Commencement	1 November 1831[c]
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes	Game Act 1580 Game Act 1603 Game Act 1609 Game Act 1670 Game Act 1692 Game Act 1710
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1874 Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884 Hunting Act 2004
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Game Act 1831 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

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.^[2] The second, in 1892, among other things, prohibited the sale of hare meat between March and July, which is the animals' breeding season.^[3]

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.^[4]

The Game Act 1831 protects game birds in England and Wales.

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.^[5][6] In Northern Ireland, game licences and game dealing licences were abolished on 13 June 2011.^[7][8] In Scotland, game licences and game dealing licences were abolished on 29 June 2011.^[9][10]

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.

Notes

1. The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
2. The provisions of the Game Act 1831 regarding game dealing licences were subsequently extended across the United Kingdom by section 13 of the Game Licences Act 1860.^[1]
3. Section 1.