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Opening and closing dates for hunting in Allier (03): 2026-2027 season
2026-2027 Season · 15 species · Updated on 21 September 2026
| Species | Opening | Closing | Conditions | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Red deer | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027* | Harvest plan | open |
| Roe deer | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027* | Harvest plan | open |
| Rook | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Carrion crow | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Fallow deer | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027* | Harvest plan | open |
| Starling | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Common pheasant | 20 September 2026 | 24 January 2027 | None | open |
| Jay | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| European rabbit | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| European hare | 20 September 2026 | 11 November 2026 | None | open |
| Partridge | 20 September 2026 | 6 December 2026 | None | open |
| Magpie | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Red fox | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Wild boar | 1 June 2026 | 31 March 2027* | Harvest plan | 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 Allier (03), hunting for 2026-2027 opens at the earliest on 1 June 2026 and closes at the latest on 31 March 2027, depending on the species. Wild boar opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 31 March 2027. Upcoming closings: european hare on 11 November 2026, partridge on 6 December 2026, common pheasant on 24 January 2027, badger on 28 February 2027. The table above shows the opening and closing dates for all 15 species.
Dates according to the prefectoral decree no. 1157/26 (Official French title), consulted on 21 September 2026. View the decree →
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Detailed dates by species
When does hunting for roe deer open in Allier (03)?
In Allier (03), the opening date for roe deer for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 1 June 2026, and the closing date is 28 February 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 1157/26.
- From 1 June 2026 to 19 September 2026, stalking / from a hide (Of 1st June until the general opening, hunted of roebuck only, by stalking or stand hunting, without dogs, by the holders of a decision of allocation of harvest plan.)
- From 20 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, all methods (Subject to a harvest plan.)
When does hunting for common pheasant open in Allier (03)?
In Allier (03), the opening date for common pheasant for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 20 September 2026, and the closing date is 24 January 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 1157/26.
When does hunting for wild boar open in Allier (03)?
In Allier (03), the opening date for wild boar for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 1 June 2026, and the closing date is 31 March 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 1157/26.
- From 1 June 2026 to 14 July 2026, stalking / from a hide (Of 1st June on 14 July 2026, the wild boar may be hunted from a stand and by stalking, without dogs, by the holders of a decision of allocation of harvest plan.)
- From 15 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, all methods (Du 15 juillet au 31 mars 2027, ouverture sans modalité particulière. (Official text, French))
Early opening and general opening
In Allier, the general opening of the hunting season falls on 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roe deer | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 20 September 2026 | Harvest plan |
| Fallow deer | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 20 September 2026 | Harvest plan |
| Red fox | 1 June 2026all methods | 1 June 2026 | see the decree |
| Wild boar | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 15 July 2026 | Harvest plan |
Species not listed in this table (small game, waterfowl and others) open on the general date of 20 September 2026. The exact dates and conditions are set out in the prefectoral decree.
Permitted hunting days in Allier
To hunt in Allier (03), 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 Allier. 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 →
Looking for hunting days in your commune? Here's how to find out
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 Allier compared to those of neighbouring departments.
| Department | General opening | General closing |
|---|---|---|
| Allier (03) | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Cher (18) | 27 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Nièvre (58) | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Saône-et-Loire (71) | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Loire (42) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Puy-de-Dôme (63) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Creuse (23) | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 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 Allier
In Allier (03), hunting for 2026-2027 covers 15 species, each with its own opening and closing date set by prefectoral decree. The table above gives the details species by species.
In Allier, the general hunting close is set for 28 February 2027. Some species close earlier (upcoming closings: european hare on 11 November 2026, partridge on 6 December 2026, common pheasant on 24 January 2027, badger on 28 February 2027), others later, up to 31 March 2027. The table above shows the closing date for each species.
The wild boar opening in Allier 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 Allier, the main wild boar hunting period ends on 31 March 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 Allier 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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