Driven red grouse is shot on the Lammermuir Hills about 33 km (straight line) from Edinburgh; the Scottish grouse season runs 12 Aug - 10 Dec. The areas with mapped locations lie about 30 km to about 80 km from the city centre. Scotland has no separate hunting licence for visitors; the right to shoot comes from the landholder.
Hunting areas within reach
-
Lammermuir Hills (East Lothian / Scottish Borders)
about 30 km from the city centre (centre of the area)
Game: red grouse (driven).
-
Strathtay Deer Management Group area, south of Loch Tay (Perth & Kinross)
about 80 km from the city centre (centre of the area)
Game: red deer.
Game and seasons
| Game | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red deer | Stags: no close season in Scotland since 21 Oct 2023. Hinds: open 21 Oct - 15 Feb (complement of close season 16 Feb - 20 Oct). | Female deer outside the open season only under an Out of Season Authorisation or General Authorisation. |
| Roe deer | Bucks: no close season since 21 Oct 2023. Does: open 21 Oct - 31 Mar (complement of close season 1 Apr - 20 Oct). | — |
| Sika and fallow deer | Males: no close season. Females: open 21 Oct - 15 Feb. | — |
| Red grouse | 12 Aug - 10 Dec | Land must hold a NatureScot grouse licence (landholder's licence); the shooter must check it is in place. |
| Ptarmigan | 12 Aug - 10 Dec | — |
| Black grouse | 20 Aug - 10 Dec | — |
| Grey and red-legged partridge | 1 Sep - 1 Feb | — |
| Pheasant | 1 Oct - 1 Feb | — |
Best time: Aug-Oct for grouse (season opens 12 Aug) · Red stag stalking traditionally runs through the autumn; since 2023 there is no legal close season for stags
What a visiting hunter needs
Scotland has no separate hunting licence for visitors; the right to shoot comes from the landholder. Grouse may only be shot over land covered by a NatureScot grouse licence held by the landowner/right-holder; shooting over unlicensed land is an offence.
Guide or local hunter: Not required by law. Estates commonly lend an 'estate rifle', which may only be used in the presence of the owner or an employee (e.g. stalker).
Bringing a firearm: A visitor bringing a rifle or shotgun needs a GB visitor firearm/shotgun permit, applied for by a sponsor resident in Great Britain via Police Scotland; allow up to six weeks. EU visitors' sponsors must enclose a copy of the European Firearms Pass; the EFP alone is not sufficient to bring guns into the UK.
Cost: Police Scotland visitor permit: GBP 48 per application or GBP 240 for a group application (an older third-party page still shows GBP 20).
Authority: Police Scotland Firearms Licensing (visitor permits); NatureScot (deer seasons, grouse licensing) — scotland.police.uk · nature.scot
Good to know
- Scottish deer seasons were changed in 2023; female seasons and authorisations can change again - check NatureScot.
- Grouse shooting land licensing under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 is new; confirm the moor holds a licence.
- Seasons differ in England/Wales; these are Scotland-only.
Places to stay around Edinburgh
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Hotels in Lammermuir Hills
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Frequently asked
Can a foreign visitor hunt near Edinburgh?
Scotland has no separate hunting licence for visitors; the right to shoot comes from the landholder. Grouse may only be shot over land covered by a NatureScot grouse licence held by the landowner/right-holder; shooting over unlicensed land is an offence.
What game is hunted near Edinburgh?
Red deer, Roe deer, Sika and fallow deer, Red grouse, Ptarmigan, Black grouse, Grey and red-legged partridge, Pheasant. Seasons and limits differ by species — see the table on this page.
When is the best time for hunting near Edinburgh?
Aug-Oct for grouse (season opens 12 Aug); Red stag stalking traditionally runs through the autumn; since 2023 there is no legal close season for stags.
How far are the areas from Edinburgh?
Lammermuir Hills (East Lothian / Scottish Borders): about 30 km; Strathtay Deer Management Group area, south of Loch Tay (Perth & Kinross): about 80 km (straight-line distance from the city centre).
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh city guide Every neighbourhood compared — distances, stations, who each area suits. Fishing near Edinburgh The Water of Leith through Edinburgh is free to fish with a council permit (1 April–30 September, catch-and-release brown trout and grayling); the Tweed's salmon season at Peebles, 34 km away, runs 1 February–30 November. Hunting across Europe All 10 cities with a researched hunting guide. Sources
- NatureScot — deer close seasons in Scotland; removal of male deer close season from 21 Oct 2023
- Police Scotland — visitor permit process, sponsor, EFP copy, fees, 6-week lead time
- Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust — Scottish gamebird open seasons
- Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust — driven grouse shooting in the Lammermuir Hills (2025)
- Strathtay Deer Management Group — location of the group area and red deer presence
- NatureScot — grouse licence held by landholder; shooters must check land is licensed
- Country Sport Scotland (operated by BASC) — estate rifle use in presence of owner/employee; EFP not sufficient on its own; visitor permit validity up to 12 months
- ReasonStay methodology — how facts are researched and checked