Hunting season’s first four days register 15 offences

70 law enforcement officers deployed to monitor the countryside – 530 spot-checks carried out.

Turtle Dove (Photo: David Tipling / Nature Picture Library)
Turtle Dove (Photo: David Tipling / Nature Picture Library)

Fifteen offences have been registered and 12 suspects apprehended during the hunting season’s first four days, the parliamentary secretariat for animal rights said.

The regular spring migration of turtledoves has not yet fully started, with hunters reporting a low migratory passage. Yet, four hunters were caught not declaring going out hunting on their Carnet de Chasse.

The authorities’ field surveillance was supported by the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The drone flew 10 sorties ranging between 15 and 30 minutes each over protected areas during times when hunting was not permitted.

The 15 offences were recorded between last Saturday and Wednesday: two cases of illegal trapping; two cases involving hunting within prohibited distances; two cases of possession of a shotgun capable of holding more than two rounds in its magazine and a case of an overloaded shotgun.

Other cases included the possession of cartridges loaded with lead shots exceeding the permissible size in diameter; shooting of a swallow, a protected bird; possession of pre-recorded bird calls during hunting activity.

The suspects are being prosecuted.

Since the beginning of spring hunting season for turtle dove and quail, around 70 law enforcement officers were deployed in the field to monitor the countryside between 5am and 2pm.

Around 37 enforcement officers have been deployed to monitor the countryside after permitted hunting hours until 2130.

Over 530 spot-checks on hunters to ensure compliance with the pertinent regulations and conditions of special spring hunting license.

“These spot-checks were conducted in addition to several hundred routine patrols and inspections carried out during and after permitted hunting hours,” the secretariat said.

 The joint Police-AFM enforcement operation is supported by the Specialist Enforcement Branch of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit on a 24-hour basis.