Hunting Seasons in Denmark – Complete Guide to Danish Hunting Seasons

Hunting seasons are one of the first things every hunter needs to get right before hunting begins. It is not enough to know that a species is generally huntable in Denmark. The hunting season can depend on species, sex, age, geographical area and, in some cases, also on the specific hunting method or time of day. Therefore, hunting seasons should always be checked for the area where the hunt will actually take place.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the general Danish hunting seasons and also explains why local hunting seasons are so important. The information has been updated according to the current hunting season regulation as of September 2026. Rules change continuously, so always check the current regulation before hunting.

What is a hunting season?

A hunting season is the period during which a specific wild species may be legally hunted. Outside the established hunting season, the species is protected. If no hunting season is set for a species, the default is that it is protected all year round.

This means that the hunter must both know the species and be sure that the specific animal belongs to the category that is huntable. For deer, for example, there may be different hunting seasons for stag, hind, buck, roe, calf, and fawn. It also applies that local rules can significantly change the general hunting season.

General hunting seasons for deer and other hoofed game

The general hunting seasons are the natural starting point, but especially for red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer, local exceptions should be noted.

It is particularly important to note that the general seasons are not necessarily the seasons that apply to your hunting ground. Red deer is the clearest example. Here, there are a long series of regional hunting seasons with different requirements for, among other things, the size of the stag and the number of tines.

Roe deer hunting season

The roe buck has a separate spring hunt from May 16 to July 15. After this, there is a break during the roe deer's primary rutting season, and the general hunting season reopens on October 1. From October 1, both roe buck, roe, and fawn are generally huntable until January 31.

However, local hunting seasons can be significantly shorter. On some islands, roe deer hunting is limited to very short periods, and in some places, there is no hunting season. This makes it necessary to look up the specific area in the hunting season regulation rather than solely relying on the nationwide main rule.

Red deer hunting season

Red deer have some of the most complex hunting seasons in Denmark. The general rule distinguishes between red stag larger than spiker, red spiker, hind, and calf, but these seasons are deviated from in a large number of geographical areas.

The purpose of local hunting seasons is, among other things, to support the regional management of red deer. In some areas, only stags with a certain minimum number of tines may be hunted. Elsewhere, larger stags are protected, while spikers and calves have a hunting season. Therefore, one should never go red deer hunting solely with the general hunting seasons in mind.

Before hunting, one should check both the specific geographical delimitation and the category of red deer one wishes to hunt.

Fallow deer hunting season

The general hunting season for fallow buck is September 1 to January 31, while doe and calf can generally be hunted from October 1 to January 31.

Local hunting seasons also exist for fallow deer. In some locations, the hunting season can be significantly more restricted or completely cancelled for certain categories. This is due to large regional differences in population size and management goals.

Hunting season for fox, hare, and wild rabbit

Fox has a general hunting season from September 1 to January 31. On Bornholm, according to the current local rules, there is no general hunting season for fox.

Hare has a general hunting season from November 1 to January 31, but several regional and local exceptions apply. In some parts of the country, the period is shorter, and on some islands, there is no hunting season.

Wild rabbit has a general hunting season from November 1 to January 31.

Hunting seasons for ducks and geese

Waterfowl hunting requires special attention because species, location, and time of day can all play a role.

The general hunting seasons include, among others, the following:

• Mallard, garganey, teal, pintail, wigeon, shoveler, and gadwall: September 1 – December 31, with additional hunting in January in the fishing territory according to current regulations.
• Greylag goose: September 1 – January 31.
• White-fronted goose: September 1 – January 31.
• Pink-footed goose: September 1 – January 31.
• Canada goose: September 1 – January 31.
• Tufted duck, scaup, and goldeneye: October 1 – January 31.
• Eider, male: October 1 – January 31, however, with areas where there is no hunting season.
• Common scoter: October 1 – January 31.

Bean goose does not have a general hunting season, but there is a local hunting season in parts of South Zealand and on Lolland-Falster.

Special August hunt for greylag goose and Canada goose

Greylag goose and Canada goose can, under certain conditions, be hunted on arable land or in immediate proximity to it from August 1 to August 31. At the same time, there is a distance restriction in relation to the coastline, fjords, and larger lakes. The rule is therefore not a general August hunt everywhere in the landscape.

This is a good example of why brief searches like “greylag goose hunting season” can be insufficient. The specific hunting situation determines which rule applies.

Hunting seasons for pheasant, partridge, and coot

Pheasant has a general hunting season from October 1 to January 31. Locally, shorter periods or differences between male and female may apply.

Partridge has a general hunting season from September 16 to October 31, but in several regions, the period is shorter. On some islands, the species has no hunting season at all.

Coot has a general hunting season from October 1 to January 31.

Hunting seasons for woodcock and snipe

Woodcock has a general hunting season from October 1 to January 31. There are local restrictions, including on some islands and areas.

Snipe has a general hunting season from September 1 to December 31.

Hunting season for wood pigeon

Wood pigeon has a general hunting season from November 11 to January 31. It is worth noting this, as many older hunting season tables online show earlier periods that are no longer valid.

Hunting seasons for corvids

Magpie, carrion crow, and raven have a general hunting season from September 1 to January 31.

These species also have a special rule regarding the time of day: they may be hunted from one hour before sunrise until sunset, whereas general hunting otherwise generally takes place between sunrise and sunset.

Hunting seasons for invasive species

A number of invasive species have a general hunting season from September 1 to January 31. This includes, among others, Egyptian goose, muskrat, coypu, raccoon, raccoon dog, and mink.

For invasive species, there may also be opportunities for regulation outside the general hunting season. Regulation is legally different from general hunting and may be linked to special conditions or permits. Therefore, regulation rules should not be confused with the hunting season overview.

When during the day can you hunt?

As a general rule, hunting may take place between sunrise and sunset.

However, there are important exceptions. Ducks and geese may be hunted from one and a half hours before sunrise to one and a half hours after sunset. Magpie, carrion crow, and raven may be hunted from one hour before sunrise to sunset. For red deer, there are also areas with local rules on extended hunting seasons around sunrise and sunset.

It is therefore not enough just to know the date. For some types of hunting, you also need to know the precise legal time of day.

What are local hunting seasons?

Local hunting seasons are exceptions to the general hunting seasons. They can apply to an entire region, a municipality, an island, or a more precisely defined geographical area.

Local rules are particularly extensive for red deer and fallow deer, but also exist for roe deer, hare, pheasant, partridge, woodcock, bean goose, silver gull, and other species.

In practice, this means that two hunters a few kilometers apart can, in some cases, be subject to different hunting seasons.

How to check the hunting season before hunting

A good routine is to check the hunting season every time a new season begins – even if you have hunted the same species for many years. Rules can change, and local boundaries can be difficult to remember correctly.

Start by identifying the precise species and category. Then check the general hunting season. Finally, check if the hunting area is located in an area with local hunting seasons.

For red and fallow deer, this should be a fixed part of the preparation before each hunt. The same applies when hunting on islands and in areas where you do not normally hunt.

Why do hunting seasons change?

Hunting seasons are a management tool. They are established with regard to population development, breeding periods, migration patterns, international nature conservation regulations, and local management needs.

A species can therefore have a shorter or longer hunting season, or the hunting season can be removed completely if the biological or management situation changes.

For deer, hunting seasons can also be used to control the composition of the harvest. This is one of the reasons why some places distinguish between spikers, larger stags, hinds, and calves.

Are hunting season and regulation the same?

No. General hunting takes place within a set hunting season. Regulation has a different purpose and takes place according to separate rules, for example, to prevent specific damage.

That a species has no hunting season does not necessarily mean that it can never be regulated. Conversely, a regulation option does not grant the right to general hunting outside the hunting season.

It is important to keep the two sets of rules separate.

How to use a hunting season overview correctly

A hunting season overview is a practical starting point, but it should not be used as the sole check before hunting. The legal reality can consist of general hunting seasons, local hunting seasons, and special rules for specific areas or hunting methods.

Therefore, start by identifying the species and the category the animal belongs to. For deer, sex and age can be important. Then check the local location. A hunting area in North Jutland may be subject to different provisions than an area on Zealand.

Finally, you should check if there are special conditions for the type of hunting you want to use. This applies, for example, to rules about time of day, distances, motorboats, wetlands, or specific types of areas.

The safe workflow is therefore: species, category, area, and hunting method.

No hunting season is not the same as regulation

If a species does not have a general hunting season, it does not automatically mean that it may never be killed. Regulation is a different set of rules than general hunting and can, in certain situations, occur according to special provisions or permits.

The opposite is also true: that a species can be regulated under certain circumstances does not mean that it can be freely hunted outside the hunting season.

It is therefore important to distinguish between general hunting and regulation, especially when searching for information online. A brief overview that simply states "may be shot" can hide crucial conditions.

Hunting seasons change – do not save old tables as gospel

Hunting seasons are not natural constants. They are determined politically and administratively and can be changed when new regulations come into force. Local schemes can also be adjusted.

Therefore, you should be careful with old screenshots, hunting calendars from previous seasons, and social media posts. They may have been correct when they were written, but may be outdated today.

If you use this article as a planning tool, always check the current regulation and official hunting season overview immediately before hunting. This is particularly relevant for deer, geese, and species with local exceptions.

Plan your hunting year based on more than just dates

The hunting season tells you when a species may be hunted, but it does not necessarily tell you when hunting is best or most appropriate on your hunting ground. Weather, food, breeding success, population size, and local management goals can be at least as important.

A good hunting year is therefore planned by combining the framework of the law with observations from the terrain. Record what you see throughout the year and compare it with the harvest. In this way, the hunting table becomes a legal foundation, while the specific hunt is guided by knowledge of the population.

This is especially valuable for deer, where a responsible culling plan can be more restrictive than the period allowed by law.

Sunrise and sunset are part of the rules

Hunting season is not just about dates. For most species, hunting can generally take place from sunrise to sunset, while certain bird species have special time windows around sunrise and sunset.

Therefore, check the current times for the specific day and location. This is especially important in autumn and winter, where daylight hours change rapidly from week to week.

Frequently asked questions about hunting seasons

When does buck hunting start?

The general spring hunt for roe buck starts on May 16 and lasts until July 15, inclusive. Local exceptions may apply.

When can you hunt roe and fawn?

The general hunting season for roe and fawn is October 1 to January 31, but there are local deviations.

When can you shoot greylag geese?

The general hunting season is September 1 to January 31. In addition, there is a special August rule on arable land and in immediate proximity to these, if the conditions are met.

When can you hunt red stag?

This largely depends on the area and the category of the stag. The general hunting season for red stag larger than spiker is October 16 to December 31, but local hunting seasons deviate from this rule in many places.

Can you hunt after sunset?

As a general rule, no. Ducks and geese have extended time frames around sunrise and sunset, and there are special local rules for red deer.

Where can you find the official hunting seasons?

The current hunting seasons can be found in the hunting season regulation on Retsinformation. This is the official regulation that should be checked if there is any doubt.

Hunting seasons must always be checked before hunting

Hunting seasons seem like a simple matter of dates, but in practice, there are many exceptions. This is especially true for deer and local populations, where management varies from area to area.

Therefore, use a hunting season overview as a first orientation – not as a substitute for checking the applicable rules for your specific hunting ground. This leads to both more responsible hunting and reduces the risk of acting on an old or inaccurate hunting season.