Gamebirds: licences to release them

When you need a licence

You need a licence if you plan to release gamebirds within: 

• a special area of conservation (SAC) in England
• a special protection area (SPA) in England
• 500 metres of the boundaries (known as the buffer zone) around a SAC or SPA 

If your proposed release is on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), you may also need separate consent from Natural England. 

A site can be located within multiple boundaries. For example, it could be within both a SAC and a SSSI. If a site is within both a SPA and a SAC (or within their buffer zones), follow the guidance for SPAs.

You do not need a licence to release gamebirds in other areas. You should avoid releasing gamebirds wherever possible on any SPA, SAC or SSSI in England.

All shoots must comply with the Defra and APHA guidance Bird flu: rules if you keep game birds. You should check these rules for updates regularly throughout the year.

Releases on or near special areas of conservation (SACs)

If you want to release gamebirds on a SAC or within its 500m buffer zone, you should check if you can use the GL43 general licence. If you do use GL43 you must comply with its conditions, including reporting releases.

If you cannot use the GL43 general licence or meet its conditions, you will need an individual licence.

Releases on or near special protection areas (SPAs)

If you want to release gamebirds on or within 500m of a SPA, you will need an individual licence. You cannot use the GL43 general licence, as it only authorises releases on or within 500m of a SAC.

General licence GL45 for release of gamebirds on or within 500m of a SPA will not be issued in 2025, as it is currently not possible to rule out the risk (which remains very high) of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreading to the bird features present on SPAs.

Releases on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)

If your planned release site is on a SSSI, you are likely to need consent from Natural England to: 

• release gamebirds 
• put up and maintain gamebird release pens 
• feed gamebirds 
• drive vehicles on the site 

You must follow the conditions of that consent.  

You need to:  

• check MAGIC maps to see if your release site is within a SSSI
• check if you need SSSI consent from Natural England  
• apply for SSSI consent (if needed)  

You will need both consent and a licence if the area is also in a SAC, SPA, or the 500m buffer zone of a SAC or SPA.

Check the location of your release site

To check if your release site is in a SPA, SAC or SSSI, or the buffer zone of a SAC or SPA:

1. Open Open MAGIC maps. This link willshould open the MAGIC map with the the SAC, , SPA, , SSSI, and and SPA and  and SAC buffer buffer zone layers pre-selected.pre-selected.  If the layers do not load you may need to click ‘accept cookies’ and ‘get started’ and then reopen MAGIC maps.
2. Drag and zoom the map to the location of your proposed release site.

Your site may be within the boundaries of more than one of these sites. SACs and SPAs are nearly always also SSSIs.

Calculate your release density

The maximum density of gamebirds you can release under general licence GL43 is:  

• within a SAC, 700 birds per hectare of release pen or release area  
• in a SAC buffer zone, 1,000 birds per hectare of release pen or release area  

For individual licence applications, you will be asked to submit the size in hectares of each release pen or area, and the proposed number of birds to be released. It is unlikely you will be able to release a higher density of gamebirds under an individual licence than the figures above. In some limited and specific cases, you may need to release a lower density.

If any gamebirds are shot or killed, you must not release more birds if this will exceed the allowed limit. 

To calculate how many birds you can release, multiply the size of your release pen in hectares by the maximum release density for your site. 

For example, for a 2-hectare release pen within a SAC boundary, multiply 2 (hectares) by 700 (the maximum release density permitted by GL43). This would result in a maximum of 1,400 gamebirds you can release from the pen under GL43. 

To measure the size of your release pen, you can:  

1. Open MAGIC maps. 

2. Drag and zoom the map to the location of your release pen. 

3. Select the ‘Measure’ button (the ruler icon). 

4. In the pop-up window, choose the ‘Measure Area’ button. 

5. On the map, select points along the boundary of your pen. 

6. When you select the final point of your boundary, double-click. The area of the pen in square metres will appear in the pop-up. Use the drop-down to change the unit to ‘Hectares’.

Get help 

Contact glenquiries@defra.gov.uk if you have any questions about: 

• the general licence for releases on SACs and their buffer zones (GL43) 

Contact gamebirds@naturalengland.org.uk if you have questions about:

• applying for an individual licence for releases on SPAs or SACs and their buffer zones