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Opening and closing dates for hunting in Charente-Maritime (17): 2026-2027 season
2026-2027 Season · 25 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 |
| Common quail | 29 August 2026 | 20 February 2027 | None | open |
| Duck | 21 August 2026 | 31 January 2027 | None | open |
| Red deer | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Roe deer | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027* | None | open |
| Rook | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Carrion crow | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Fallow deer | 1 June 2026 | 28 February 2027* | None | open |
| Starling | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Common pheasant | 13 September 2026 | 31 January 2027 | None | open |
| Stone marten | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Jay | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| European rabbit | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| European hare | 18 October 2026 | 20 December 2026 | None | closed |
| Pine marten | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 | None | open |
| Woodpigeon | 13 September 2026 | 20 February 2027 | None | open |
| Partridge | 13 September 2026 | 29 November 2026 | 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* | Harvest planPrefectoral authorisation | open |
| Wild boar | 1 June 2026 | 31 May 2027* | None | 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 Charente-Maritime (17), hunting for 2026-2027 opens at the earliest on 1 June 2026 and closes at the latest on 31 May 2027, depending on the species. Wild boar opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 31 May 2027. Upcoming closings: partridge on 29 November 2026, european hare on 20 December 2026, duck on 31 January 2027, common pheasant on 31 January 2027. The table above shows the opening and closing dates for all 25 species.
Dates according to the prefectoral decree no. 26EB075-DDTM (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 Charente-Maritime (17)?
In Charente-Maritime (17), 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. 26EB075-DDTM.
- From 1 June 2026 to 12 September 2026, stalking / from a hide (early, roebuck only, holders right of hunted, outside sector L and R)
- From 13 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, all methods (stalking, stand and driven hunt)
When does hunting for wild boar open in Charente-Maritime (17)?
In Charente-Maritime (17), the opening date for wild boar for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 1 June 2026, and the closing date is 31 May 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 26EB075-DDTM.
- From 1 June 2026 to 14 August 2026, all methods (early, holders right of hunted, stalking/stand/driven hunt to the buckshot)
- From 15 August 2026 to 12 September 2026, all methods (stalking, stand and driven hunt to the buckshot)
- From 13 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, all methods (stalking, stand and driven hunt)
- From 1 April 2027 to 31 May 2027, stalking / from a hide (protection of the seedlings, driven hunt exceptional on authorisation DDTM)
When does hunting for common pheasant open in Charente-Maritime (17)?
In Charente-Maritime (17), the opening date for common pheasant for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 13 September 2026, and the closing date is 31 January 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 26EB075-DDTM.
When does hunting for duck open in Charente-Maritime (17)?
In Charente-Maritime (17), the opening date for duck for the 2026-2027 hunting season is 21 August 2026, and the closing date is 31 January 2027, according to prefectoral decree no. 26EB075-DDTM.
Early opening and general opening
In Charente-Maritime, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roe deer | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Fallow deer | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Wild boar | 1 June 2026all methods | 13 September 2026 | see the decree |
| Red fox | 1 June 2026stalking / from a hide | 1 June 2026 | Harvest planPrefectoral authorisation |
| Duck | 21 August 2026all methods | 21 August 2026 | see the decree |
| Common quail | 29 August 2026all methods | 29 August 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 Charente-Maritime
To hunt in Charente-Maritime (17), 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.
What the prefectoral decree provides for days, as we have recorded:
- European hare (from 18 October 2026 to 20 December 2026): Dimanche uniquement à l'exception des territoires gérés par l'ONF et le Conservatoire du Littoral (Official text, French)
- Partridge (from 13 September 2026 to 29 November 2026): Sunday, Wednesday and public holidays.
- Common pheasant (from 13 September 2026 to 31 January 2027): Sunday, Wednesday and public holidays
- European rabbit (from 13 September 2026 to 28 February 2027): Dimanche et mercredi (tous les jours 25/10->28/02 là où classé ESOD) (Official text, French)
- Common quail (from 29 August 2026 to 20 February 2027): Last Saturday of August -> 12/09 every day, then Sunday and Wednesday (every day from 25/10)
- Woodpigeon (from 13 September 2026 to 20 February 2027): Pigeon ramier : Sunday and Wednesday until 10/02, then every day 17/02->20/02
- Woodcock (from 13 September 2026 to 20 February 2027): Bécasse des bois, dimanche et mercredi (hors ONF/Conservatoire du Littoral), tous les jours à partir du 25/10 (Official text, French)
For other species, we have not recorded any imposed days. Your territory's rules may set some.
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 Charente-Maritime compared to those of neighbouring departments.
| Department | General opening | General closing |
|---|---|---|
| Charente-Maritime (17) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Vendée (85) | 20 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Deux-Sèvres (79) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Charente (16) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Dordogne (24) | 13 September 2026 | 28 February 2027 |
| Gironde (33) | 13 September 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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