Flanders's own seasons under its regional hunting law. The official text in force prevails.

Where Flanders differs from the rest of Belgium

Compared with the dates that hold everywhere in Belgium:

• Roe deer (Buck): 1 May – 14 Sep · not open everywhere in Belgium
• Roe deer (Doe): 1 Jan – 31 Mar · not open everywhere in Belgium
• Roe deer (Yearling doe): 1 Jan – 31 Mar · not open everywhere in Belgium
• Roe deer (Fawn): 1 Jan – 31 Mar · not open everywhere in Belgium
• Grey partridge: 15 Sep – 14 Nov · everywhere in Belgium: 20 Sep – 14 Nov
• Canada goose: 15 Aug – 31 Mar · everywhere in Belgium: 15 Aug – 10 Mar
• Mallard: 15 Aug – 31 Jan · everywhere in Belgium: 1 Sep – 15 Jan
• European rabbit: 15 Aug – 28/29 Feb · everywhere in Belgium: 1 Oct – 31 Jan
• Common wood pigeon: 15 Sep – 28/29 Feb · everywhere in Belgium: 20 Oct – 28/29 Feb
• Eurasian coot: No open season
• Eurasian woodcock: No open season

Openings and closings by month

Notes

1. Big game may only be shot under an approved shooting plan (afschotplan) for the hunting ground.
2. Ordinary hunting is closed only from 15 to 31 July; special hunting is possible all year, including night-time stand hunting under special-hunting rules.
3. Outside these dates, special hunting (bijzondere jacht) is possible only to prevent significant damage, protect wildlife or habitats, or for air safety, and only after notifying Natuur en Bos at least 24 hours beforehand.
4. Only inside a recognised wildlife management unit (WBE) with at least three breeding pairs per 100 ha of open land on average over the previous three years; Natuur en Bos can close the season per WBE.
5. In the bird-rich areas listed in the annex of the Jachtvoorwaardenbesluit, only big game may be hunted from 15 November to the last day of February.
6. Hens may be shot only until 31 December; cocks until 31 January.
7. Geese may also be killed for nature management after notifying Natuur en Bos (netting only 1 June–14 July).
8. The holder of the hunting right with a hunting licence may also shoot rabbits from a stand all year in the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset.
9. Sworn gamekeepers may control wild boar, wood pigeon, rabbit and fox all year without notification; landowners may also control damaging game under art. 22 of the Hunting Decree.
10. No ordinary season. Special hunting from 15 October to 14 November only where the holder of the hunting right can show damage to crops other than permanent grassland.
11. No ordinary season. Special hunting is possible only on damage or air-safety grounds (in practice near airports).
12. Listed as game in the Flemish Hunting Decree, but no open season is set, so it may not be hunted.
13. Not a game species in Flanders and protected under the Species Decree.
14. Not game: a non-native species the landowner or user (or someone with their written permission) may control all year; firearms need a valid hunting licence and may be used from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
15. Not game. Control (bestrijding) under the Species Decree only after a favourable decision by Natuur en Bos on a request, adults only, with a valid hunting licence, between sunrise and sunset (jackdaw: damage to professional crops; jay: 1 July–31 October within 150 m of a professional orchard).

Source

Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (ANB)

Legal basis

Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 28 juni 2013 betreffende de jachtopeningstijden in het Vlaamse Gewest (Jachtopeningsbesluit), gewijzigd bij BVR 25 april 2014 en 9 oktober 2015; Soortenbesluit van 15 mei 2009 (bestrijding)

Published

19 Oct 2026

Flanders's own regulations prevail: they can add closures, quotas or restrictions not shown here. Season information in the app is for guidance only. Always check current legislation and local rules before you hunt.

Hunting seasons elsewhere in Belgium

• Brussels
• Wallonia

Belgium →