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Opening and closing dates for hunting in Ain (01): 2026-2027 season
2026-2027 Season · 23 species · Updated on 21 September 2026
| Species | Opening | Closing | Conditions | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcock | 13 September 2026 | 20 February 2027 | None | open |
| Weasel | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Badger | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027* | None | open |
| Red deer | 1 September 2026 | 28 February 2027* | Harvest plan | open |
| Chamois | 1 September 2026 | 28 February 2027* | Harvest plan | open |
| Roe deer | 1 July 2026 | 30 June 2027*closed from 1 March 2027 to 31 May 2027 | Prefectoral authorisationHarvest plan | open |
| Rook | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Carrion crow | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Fallow deer | 1 July 2026 | 30 June 2027*closed from 1 March 2027 to 31 May 2027 | Harvest plan | open |
| Starling | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Common pheasant | 13 September 2026 | 10 January 2027 | None | open |
| Stone marten | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Jay | 13 September 2026 | 10 January 2027 | None | open |
| European rabbit | 13 September 2026 | 10 January 2027 | None | open |
| European hare | 27 September 2026 | 31 December 2026* | None | closed |
| Pine marten | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Partridge | 13 September 2026 | 10 January 2027 | None | open |
| Magpie | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Polecat | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Coypu | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Muskrat | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Red fox | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027* | None | open |
| Wild boar | 1 July 2026 | 30 June 2027* | Prefectoral authorisation | open |
No species matches this filter.
* Several hunting periods in the season (early openings, additional periods, etc.). The closing date shown is the latest; gaps of more than one week are shown below the date. Refer to the prefectoral decree for details on methods and permitted days.
In Ain (01), hunting for 2026-2027 opens at the earliest on 1 June 2026 and closes at the latest on 30 June 2027, depending on the species. Wild boar opens on 1 July 2026 and closes on 30 June 2027. Upcoming closings: european hare on 31 December 2026, common pheasant on 10 January 2027, jay on 10 January 2027, european rabbit on 10 January 2027. The table above shows the opening and closing dates for all 23 species.
Dates according to the prefectoral decree, consulted on 21 September 2026. View the decree →
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Detailed dates by species
When does hunting for wild boar open in Ain (01)?
In Ain (01), the opening date for wild boar for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 1 July 2026, and the closing date is 30 June 2027, according to the prefectoral decree in force.
- From 1 July 2026 to 14 August 2026, stalking / from a hide (With prefectoral authorisation, only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 1 July 2026 to 14 August 2026, driven hunt (With prefectoral authorisation, only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 15 August 2026 to 12 September 2026, stalking / from a hide (Only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 15 August 2026 to 12 September 2026, driven hunt (Only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 13 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, all methods (General opening a general closing, bullets mandatory)
- From 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2027, stalking / from a hide (Only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2027, driven hunt (Only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 1 April 2027 to 31 May 2027, stalking / from a hide (With prefectoral authorisation, only for the protection of the seedlings, from a stand or by stalking, or even as a driven hunt a exceptional basis (art. 6))
- From 1 June 2027 to 30 June 2027, stalking / from a hide (With prefectoral authorisation, only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
- From 1 June 2027 to 30 June 2027, driven hunt (With prefectoral authorisation, only as a driven hunt, from a stand or by stalking)
When does hunting for roe deer open in Ain (01)?
In Ain (01), the opening date for roe deer for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 1 July 2026, and the closing date is 30 June 2027, according to the prefectoral decree in force.
- From 1 July 2026 to 12 September 2026, stalking / from a hide (With prefectoral authorisation, hunted a stalking or stand hunting of roebuck)
- From 13 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, all methods (General opening a general closing, harvest plan. shooting of the chevrette allowed only of 15/10/2026 on 28/02/2027)
- From 1 June 2027 to 30 June 2027, stalking / from a hide (With prefectoral authorisation, hunted a stalking or stand hunting of roebuck)
When does hunting for common pheasant open in Ain (01)?
In Ain (01), the opening date for common pheasant for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 13 September 2026, and the closing date is 10 January 2027, according to the prefectoral decree in force.
Early opening and general opening
In Ain, the general opening of the hunting season falls on 13 September 2026: most species become huntable from that date, with all methods permitted. Before it, some big game species have an early opening (summer shooting), usually by stalking or from a hide and on prefectoral authorisation.
| Species | Early opening | General opening | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red fox | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Wild boar | 1 July 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | Prefectoral authorisation |
| Roe deer | 1 July 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | Prefectoral authorisation |
| Fallow deer | 1 July 2026all methods | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Chamois | 1 September 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Red deer | 1 September 2026all methods | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
Species not listed in this table (small game, waterfowl and others) open on the general date of 13 September 2026. The exact dates and conditions are set out in the prefectoral decree.
Permitted hunting days in Ain
To hunt in Ain (01), the permitted days are not the same everywhere: the prefectoral decree sets some, species by species, then each hunting association or ACCA chooses its days within this framework, commune by commune.
We have not recorded any imposed days in the prefectoral decree for Ain. However, each hunting association or ACCA may limit its days, particularly for driven hunts for big game.
Details are in the prefectoral decree, the only authoritative document. View the decree →
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Compare with neighbouring departments
Opening and closing dates vary from one department to another, as each prefecture sets its own decree. Here are the general opening and closing dates in Ain compared to those of neighbouring departments.
| Department | General opening | General closing |
|---|---|---|
| Ain (01) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Jura (39) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Saône-et-Loire (71) | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Rhône (69) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Isère (38) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Savoie (73) | 13 September 2026 | 31 January 2027 |
| Haute-Savoie (74) | 13 September 2026 | 17 January 2027 |
Glossary of hunting terms
- General opening
- Date from which hunting is open for most species, all methods permitted. It is set each year by the prefectoral decree, usually in mid-September.
- Early opening
- Hunting period permitted before the general opening, reserved for certain big game species (roe deer, wild boar, red deer, etc.). It is usually practised by stalking or from a hide, on prefectoral authorisation, to regulate populations from summer.
- Harvest plan
- A scheme that controls the harvest of certain species (red deer, roe deer, mouflon) by setting the maximum number of animals that may be taken, with a numbered tag attached to each animal shot.
- Prefectoral authorisation
- Individual authorisation issued by the prefecture, often required for early openings or additional periods. The application is usually made online (demarches-simplifiees.fr).
- Driven hunt
- Collective hunting method where beaters, sometimes accompanied by dogs, push game towards a line of posted shooters. Common method for wild boar and big game.
- Stalking and hide
- Individual and quiet hunting methods: from a hide, the hunter waits for game at a fixed position; stalking, they approach it discreetly. Often the only methods permitted during early opening.
- Bullets
- Requirement, for big game, to use a rifled-barrel firearm firing a single bullet (not shot), for reasons of effectiveness and safety. Specified in the decree species by species.
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Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about hunting in Ain
In Ain (01), hunting for 2026-2027 covers 23 species, each with its own opening and closing date set by prefectoral decree. The table above gives the details species by species.
In Ain, the general hunting close is set for 28 February 2027. Some species close earlier (upcoming closings: european hare on 31 December 2026, common pheasant on 10 January 2027, jay on 10 January 2027, european rabbit on 10 January 2027), others later, up to 30 June 2027. The table above shows the closing date for each species.
The wild boar opening in Ain is shown in the table above. In most departments, summer shooting by stalking or from a hide starts from 1 June, before the general September opening, but the specifics vary from one decree to another.
In Ain, the main wild boar hunting period ends on 28 February 2027. Additional periods (driven hunt, hide or stalking) may then be authorised in spring and summer on prefectoral authorisation; details are in the table above. The prefectoral decree is the authoritative source.
Permitted days vary by species and territory. Some hunting associations or ACCAs impose non-hunting days (often Tuesday or Friday), and the prefectoral decree may set some. Refer to the decree for Ain and your territory's rules before planning an outing.
The dates come from the prefectoral decree for the 2026-2027 season (reference shown above). This is the only authoritative document: if in doubt in the field, consult it.
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