Defra Licence:

[Rodd]

Ftwizard,

Game licences are no longer required, but can still only be shot in their relevant seasons and not on Sundays or Christmas Day or without landowners specific permission where you have shooting permissions.

Rod

[Simply Simon]

Game birds are considered as a crop to be harvested at certain times of the year. All birds and animals are protected; some are then exempted under certain conditions (general license) as detailed above, and thus you cannot shoot quarry solely for food or in your confines of your backgarden. Others are exempted at certain times of the year during their specific 'open seasons'.