Hunters reported successfully shooting 1,842 turtle doves and 366 quails this season, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.

Under the terms of this year’s controversial spring hunting seaso, the  5,600 licensed hunters were allowed to shoot 9,000 turtledoves and 2,500 quails from April 13 until the end of April, but no more than one each per day and four in the whole season.

They are meant to send a text message to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority each time they killed a bird to enable the authority to keep tabs on the season.

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