Hunting Calendar Latvia 2026/27: What You Can Hunt and When
This Latvian hunting calendar puts it all in one place: the season for every huntable species, the same dates month by month, and the rules that decide what you can do on a given day. The dates come from Cabinet Regulation No. 421, the Hunting Regulations, in the version in force since 1 April 2024. We last checked them on 1 November 2026.
TL;DRWild boar and fox are open all year. Roe bucks open on 1 June, does and kids on 15 August, and all roe close on 30 November. Moose run from 1 September to 31 December. Waterfowl open on 20 August, but only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 14 September. Driven hunts run from 1 October to 31 March, and to 31 January for boar and red deer. The State Forest Service (VMD) can change mammal dates, so check its latest decisions before you go.
The hunting season starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March the next year. Hunting without a valid season card is prohibited, so you'll need a 2027/28 card when the new season begins. The state fee is €30, or €15 at the reduced rate.
This page is an overview, not legal advice. If anything here differs from the regulation or a VMD decision, those come first.
You can only hunt where you hold hunting rights. A landowner can pass them on through a written hunting contract (medību līgums) for at least one year. To use those rights, the contract goes to VMD and is registered as part of a hunting district (medību iecirknis), except when you hunt unlimited species.
Hunting seasons by species
All year: wild boar, fox, American mink, raccoon dog, fallow deer, mouflon, sika deer, raccoon, coypu and bobak marmot. We don't repeat them in the tables.
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| Big game | |
| Moose (elk) | 1 September – 31 December |
| Red deer stags | 1 September – 15 February |
| Red deer stags up to 2 years | 15 August – 31 March |
| Red deer hinds | 15 July – 31 January |
| Red deer calves up to 1 year | 15 July – 31 March |
| Roe bucks | 1 June – 30 November |
| Roe does and kids up to 1 year | 15 August – 30 November |
| Predators and small mammals | |
| Wolf | 15 July – 31 March; ends once the VMD quota is used |
| Golden jackal | 15 July – 31 March |
| Brown and mountain hare | 1 October – 31 January |
| Pine marten, stone marten, polecat | 1 October – 31 March |
| Badger | 1 August – 31 March |
| Beaver, muskrat | 15 July – 15 April; in drainage systems to 30 April |
| Forest and field birds | |
| Capercaillie, black grouse | 1 September – 31 December |
| Rackelhane (capercaillie and black grouse hybrid) | 1 September – 31 December |
| Hazel grouse | 1 September – 31 January |
| Pheasant | 1 August – 31 March |
| Woodpigeon | 1 August – 15 November |
| Feral pigeon | 1 August – 31 December |
| Woodcock | 1 September – 15 December |
| Hooded crow, magpie | 15 June – 30 April |
| Waterfowl | |
| Greylag goose, coot, teal, gadwall, mallard, garganey, tufted duck, scaup, common scoter, goldeneye | 20 August – 15 December; to 14 September only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays |
| Bean goose, white-fronted goose, Canada goose, pintail, shoveler, wigeon | 15 September – 30 November |
Calendar by month: what you can hunt now
The table lists species with an open season for at least part of the month. Brackets give the day a season opens or closes. Species open all year aren't listed.
| Month | What you can hunt |
|---|---|
| January | Red deer stags; Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Brown and mountain hare; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Hazel grouse; Pheasant; Hooded crow, magpie |
| February | Red deer stags (to the 15th); Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Pheasant; Hooded crow, magpie |
| March | Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Pheasant; Hooded crow, magpie |
| April | Beaver, muskrat (to the 15th, in drainage systems to the 30th); Hooded crow, magpie |
| May | Only the species open all year |
| June | Roe bucks; Hooded crow, magpie (from the 15th) |
| July | Red deer hinds (from the 15th); Red deer calves up to 1 year (from the 15th); Roe bucks; Wolf (from the 15th); Golden jackal (from the 15th); Beaver, muskrat (from the 15th); Hooded crow, magpie |
| August | Red deer stags up to 2 years (from the 15th); Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Roe bucks; Roe does and kids up to 1 year (from the 15th); Wolf; Golden jackal; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Pheasant; Woodpigeon; Feral pigeon; Hooded crow, magpie; Greylag goose, coot and ducks other than pintail, shoveler and wigeon (from the 20th, Wed, Sat, Sun) |
| September | Moose (elk); Red deer stags; Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Roe bucks; Roe does and kids up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Capercaillie, black grouse; Rackelhane (capercaillie and black grouse hybrid); Hazel grouse; Pheasant; Woodpigeon; Feral pigeon; Woodcock; Hooded crow, magpie; Greylag goose, coot and ducks other than pintail, shoveler and wigeon (to the 14th Wed, Sat, Sun, then daily); Other geese, pintail, shoveler, wigeon (from the 15th) |
| October | Moose (elk); Red deer stags; Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Roe bucks; Roe does and kids up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Brown and mountain hare; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Capercaillie, black grouse; Rackelhane (capercaillie and black grouse hybrid); Hazel grouse; Pheasant; Woodpigeon; Feral pigeon; Woodcock; Hooded crow, magpie; Greylag goose, coot and ducks other than pintail, shoveler and wigeon; Other geese, pintail, shoveler, wigeon |
| November | Moose (elk); Red deer stags; Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Roe bucks; Roe does and kids up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Brown and mountain hare; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Capercaillie, black grouse; Rackelhane (capercaillie and black grouse hybrid); Hazel grouse; Pheasant; Woodpigeon (to the 15th); Feral pigeon; Woodcock; Hooded crow, magpie; Greylag goose, coot and ducks other than pintail, shoveler and wigeon; Other geese, pintail, shoveler, wigeon |
| December | Moose (elk); Red deer stags; Red deer stags up to 2 years; Red deer hinds; Red deer calves up to 1 year; Wolf; Golden jackal; Brown and mountain hare; Pine marten, stone marten, polecat; Badger; Beaver, muskrat; Capercaillie, black grouse; Rackelhane (capercaillie and black grouse hybrid); Hazel grouse; Pheasant; Feral pigeon; Woodcock (to the 15th); Hooded crow, magpie; Greylag goose, coot and ducks other than pintail, shoveler and wigeon (to the 15th) |
Dates that catch people out
Duck opening day moves. The season starts on 20 August, but until 14 September you can only hunt on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In 2026, 20 August was a Thursday, so the season opened on Saturday 22 August. In 2027 it's a Friday, which makes Saturday 21 August the first day.
Two waterfowl groups. Pintail, shoveler, wigeon, bean goose, white-fronted goose and Canada goose don't open until 15 September, and they close on 30 November.
Wolf season can end before 31 March. It closes once the quota set by VMD is used.
Roe don't all open together. Bucks from 1 June, does and kids from 15 August.
Young red deer stags. A hind permit also covers a stag up to two years old. A moose or red deer stag or hind permit also covers an animal of that species up to one year old, within the season.
Beaver and muskrat have two closing dates. Normally 15 April, and 30 April in drainage systems.
Driven hunts: dates and clothing
Driven hunts are allowed from sunrise to sunset, from 1 October to 31 March. For wild boar and red deer they end on 31 January, even though boar themselves are open all year. With VMD permission, driven hunts can also be held all year for animal disease control, and for wolves from 15 July to 30 September.
- Hunt leader: a driven hunt can't go ahead without one, and the leader must carry the hunt report and hunt leader's certificate.
- Bright clothing: anyone without bright clothing, or bright elements that stand out from their surroundings from any angle, can't take part. An Allen orange vest does the job, and so does the signal orange side of the Parforce reversible winter jacket.
- Dogs: dogs need a bright marking at least 2 cm wide, except when working underground. See our dog gear.
- Dogs on individual hunts: for moose, red deer, boar and roe, a pedigree hunting dog is only allowed during the driven hunt period. To find a wounded animal, you can use one throughout that species' season.
Early in the season the undergrowth is still in leaf and the woods are full of mushroom and berry pickers. VMD asks hunters to weigh that up before holding the first drives.
Hunting after dark
Night, under the regulation, starts two hours after sunset and ends two hours before sunrise. During that time you can only hunt with a firearm from a natural or built platform at least 2.5 metres high that lets you shoot downward. The exceptions are moose bulls and red deer stags from 1 September to 15 October, and waterfowl.
If natural light won't let you make out the target, you can't hunt with a firearm. The exceptions are wild boar, fox and raccoon dog, which you can hunt with artificial light, a night vision scope or a thermal scope from such a platform. These hunts go in the hunt report. Moving around in the dark, a firearm with that scope or light must be unloaded, except when checking a shot or tracking a wounded animal. Then keep a light switched on the whole time.
For long evenings in the high seat, see our seats, sticks and slings.
What you can hunt with
- Wild boar, moose, red deer: a rifled hunting firearm with at least 3,000 joules at the muzzle and an expanding bullet. Animals under a year old can also be hunted on individual hunts with at least 1,500 joules and an expanding bullet. The other option is a 20 to 10 gauge hunting firearm for smoothbore ammunition, with a hunting slug.
- High-energy air guns: only hooded crow, magpie, woodpigeon and feral pigeon.
- Lead shot: VMD says it is in effect banned for hunting across Latvia.
- Alcohol: no hunting with a firearm above 0.5 per mille, or under the influence of drugs or other intoxicating substances.
Before the season, make sure your rifle still hits where you aim: how to zero a rifle scope. The barrel deserves the same care: how to clean a hunting gun.
After the shot: registering and moving game
Registering and reporting are hunt leader duties. On an individual hunt they fall to you, unless you hunt on a VMD permit for foreigners; then they fall to the holder of the hunting rights or their authorised person.
- Approach the right way. Go up to a fallen moose, red deer, boar, roe or wolf with a loaded firearm, from behind the animal.
- Register before moving. Register the animal in the "Mednis" app before dividing it or moving it from where it fell. Waterfowl can be registered on the bank, before you carry them away.
- Gutting on the spot is fine. It doesn't count as moving. Putting the animal in a vehicle or attaching it to one does.
- Report within a day. Information on animals killed and wounded goes to VMD through the app.
- Carry proof when moving it. Either the information registered in the app, or a marker on the animal showing the date and your hunter's certificate number.
If a moose, red deer, boar or roe is wounded, register that before tracking. For waterfowl photos, VMD requires the tail, legs and beak to be visible, and a spread wing for ducks, and the bird lying belly down.
For the field work you'll want a properly sharp knife (how to sharpen a hunting knife) and our game preparation gear.
When the dates change
- VMD decisions: VMD can change mammal seasons and add restrictions or relaxations, for reasons such as damage, animal numbers or weather. In 2025 it allowed red deer hinds, calves and young stags from 1 July in set regions. That doesn't mean it happens every year.
- Animal disease: an outbreak can bring other dates and conditions, or a ban on some species in part or all of the country.
- Specially protected nature areas: these can have their own dates and bans.
- Public waters: no more than 10 waterfowl per hunter per day. On lakes and rivers within towns, the municipality's rules apply.
- Damage: mammals can only be hunted out of season in the set order, where needed to prevent damage or to protect public safety and interests. Some species, such as wolf and beaver, have extra conditions.
Look for the latest decisions on the State Forest Service website, and ask the holder of the hunting rights or the responsible person about limits on a specific area.
A GunRange look
Our shop shares a roof with a shooting range, and the best kit in the world won't help if you've got the date wrong. We compare this page with the regulation every spring before the new season, and whenever the rules change. If you spot a mistake, tell us.
Conclusion
Save this page, look up what's open this month, and check whether VMD has changed anything. The rest is up to you: an evening in the high seat or a morning on the line.
The best hunting plan starts with the right date.
FAQ
When does roe deer season start?
Roe bucks open on 1 June, and does and kids up to a year old on 15 August. All roe close on 30 November.
When does duck season start?
On 20 August, but only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 14 September, so the first day moves. In 2027 it's Saturday 21 August. Pintail, shoveler and wigeon open on 15 September.
Can you hunt wild boar all year in Latvia?
Yes, but without a VMD permit, driven boar hunts are only allowed from 1 October to 31 January. VMD can set other conditions because of disease, so check before you go.
What can you hunt in November?
Most species, including moose, red deer, roe, boar, hare, fox, marten, capercaillie, black grouse, woodcock, geese and ducks. Woodpigeon closes on 15 November, and roe and some geese and ducks on 30 November. The full list is in the table.
What are limited and unlimited game species?
Limited species have a set quota: moose, red deer, capercaillie, black grouse, wolf and hazel grouse. All the others, including roe and wild boar, are unlimited.
Everything you need for the season is in our hunting collection. Start with what you'll use this month.