Spring hunting season for quail and turtle dove to open in April

The Ministry for Gozo and Planning has announced the opening of a limited spring hunting season for quails and turtle doves.

In a statement, the Ministry said that the spring hunting season for quail opens on Monday 13 April and closes on Sunday 3 May.

The hunting season for the turtle dove will open on Monday 20 April and remain open until Sunday 3 May, the statement said.

Hunting is allowed from two hours before sunrise until noon and applies to each day during the season for both quails and turtle doves.

The season was opened following the publication of Legal Notices 80/2026 and 81/2026, issued in relation to the 2026 Special Spring Hunting Licence, which formally declare the opening of the quail and turtle dove hunting seasons.

The national quotas have been set at 2,400 quail and 1,500 turtle doves, and there are no individual quotas.

Hunters must immediately report every quail and turtle dove hunted during the open season, and must also report their hunting effort even if no birds are caught, as outlined in the Special Licence.

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