The government today announced that the autumn hunting season will open tomorrow 1 September. The season will close on 31 January.
"In accordance with the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 504.71) the hunting of birds on land shall be permitted between the 1st September and the 31st January, between two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset on any day between Monday and Saturday, and between two hours before sunrise and 1pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. However the hunting of birds on land between the 15th September and the 7th October (inclusive of both dates) shall not be permitted from Monday to Saturday between 7 pm and two hours before sunrise of the following day.
The hunting of birds at sea shall be permitted between the 1st October and the 31st January during the same times as those applicable to hunting on land, provided that between the 1st October and 7th October, inclusive of both dates, hunting at sea shall not be permitted from Monday to Saturday between 7 pm and two hours before sunrise of the following day.
Compliance with applicable regulations will be rigorously enforced through field surveillance, spot checks and inspections.
Anyone caught shooting or trapping protected species listed in Schedules I and IX of the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations will automatically incur a penalty comprising of a €5,000 fine, and / or imprisonment for one year, as well as permanent revocation or ban on obtaining a hunting or trapping licence, and confiscation of corpus delicti. In case of a second or subsequent offence, the applicable penalty will go up to €10,000, confiscation, and / or imprisonment for two years. Penalties for all other irregularities, including for non-declaration of bagged birds in the Carnet de Chasse also apply."
FKNK statement
In a statement this afternoon, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) wished its hunter members “good hunting” for the hunting season that starts tomorrow. The FKNK asked its members to be wary, and thus ignore, any provocative actions by anti-hunting abolitionist entities and/or individuals. "The FKNK expects its hunter members to act responsibly and above all to be safe when hunting."
KSU urges hunters to report illegalities
Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) also augured a good season to all hunters and warned that it would not tolerate any abuse.” KSU has issued a directive to all its members to be watchful for illegalities and to report any incident they might witness to the police on telephone number 119. Apart from reporting illegal hunting activity, as major stakeholders in the countryside, hunters are also to report any illegal dumping, damage to rubble walls, damage to tress or any other prohibited activity.
It is in every law abiding hunter’s interest to weed out any law breakers who only serve to discredit legal hunting in Malta. KSU urges mutual respect from hunters and other countryside users and reminds about the legal rights to private property and the laws related to our countryside.”