The States of Guernsey police have agreed to provide a guidance note covering frequently asked questions, which GASC will reproduce or link on this website once produced.
Wild Rabbit
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | All year | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | All year | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | All year | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Trapping | Owner or Occupier | All year | Own land. Net or cage trap only |
| Trapping | Any person | All year | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier Net or cage trap only |
| Trapping | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Public land. Net or cage trap only. |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
Rabbits that are trapped alive by be killed using a slaughtering instrument specifically designed for killing or stunning and killing rabbits or dislocation of the neck or exsanguination and a slaughtering instrument.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Woodpigeon
Image courtesy of John Stanton
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | All year | Own land |
| Shooting | Any person | All year | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | All year | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Similar Species that are not Game
Stock Dove
Image courtesy of Joe Graham
Collared Dove
Image courtesy of John Stanton
Common Pheasant
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | Between 1 October and 31 January | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Grey or English Partridge
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | Between 1 October and 31 January | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Redlegged or French Partridge
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | Between 1 October and 31 January | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Woodcock
Image courtesy of Gary Smith
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | Between 1 October and 31 January | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Common Snipe
Image courtesy of Jon Taverner
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | Between 1 October and 31 January | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Any person | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Hunting Permit only on land specified in the Permit |
| Shooting | Visitor | Between 1 October and 31 January | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Similar Species that are not Game
Jack Snipe
Image courtesy of Chris Cook
Greylag Goose
Image courtesy of John Richardson
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | All year | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | All year | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Visitor | All year | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Cross-bred or Hybrid Mallard
Image courtesy of Lyn Topinka
| METHOD | WHO | WHEN | CONDITIONS |
| Shooting | Owner or Occupier | All year | On own land |
| Shooting | Any person | All year | On private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
| Shooting | Visitor | All year | Holder of a Visitor Temporary Permit on private land only with the written permission of the owner or occupier |
NOTES
The approved method of shooting is by means of using a shotgun or a low powered air rifle (less than 12 ft/lbs) or air pistol (less than 6 ft/lbs), provided that the person using a shotgun is the holder of a shot gun certificate.
For further information on shotgun licensing, hunting permits and visitor temporary permits, contact the Guernsey Police on 725111.
Similar Species that are not Game
Wigeon
Image courtesy of Thomas Harris
Teal
Image courtesy of Gordon Bowes
Other information members may find useful follows under:
Changes to the Animal Welfare (Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 came into effect at the start of May, protecting Guernsey’s animals by placing restrictions on snares, glue traps and the practice of ‘lamping,’ in which bright lights are used to dazzle hunted animals.
https://www.gov.gg/improved-legal-protections-for-animals-come-into-effect
Further guidance can be found on gov.gg.
https://www.gov.gg/animalwelfare
Scroll down to hunting for detailed information.