The Ornis Committee has voted in favour of a recommending the opening a spring hunting season for quail hunting, which will open on Monday, the 13th of April, and will remain open until Sunday, the 3rd of May.

A Turtle dove hunting season was also proposed, which will open on Monday, the 20th of April, until Sunday, the 3rd of May.

The national quotas are 2,400 quail and 1,500 dove. This is the same as the 2025 season.

The committee also proposed an application of a further derogation, for trapping Turtle dove between the 20th of April and the 3rd of May. This would be under ”strictly regulated conditions,” and ”carried out as part of a citizen-led scientific research project using traditional nets.”

The Committee’s recommendations will now be forwarded to the responsible Minister, Clint Camilleri, for the necessary legislative steps to be taken.

File photos: BirdLife Malta

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