The hunters federation, FKNK, is officially launching a campaign to encourage its members to report illegalities on 9947 4503.

It said in a statement that although this was already being done in a discreet manner, it had no other option but for this to be done in an official manner for illegal acts which were doing hunters so much damage to stop once and for all.The federation referred to the case of the shooting of a protected white stork, for which a man, who was not a member of the federation, was yesterday fined €5,000.

In a statement, it warned the government could choose to close the hunting season immediately and without consultation if incidents of illegal shooting on protected birds continue to be reported and confirmed.

The FKNK said that although it did not agree that all hunters should be blamed for such incidents, especially since illegal hunting on protected birds did not have anything to do with legal and sustainable hunting, it warned that the FKNK and real hunters, would, in their absolute majority, ensure that the people carrying out such criminal acts would not find any shelter.

This was being done especially since it was clear that such illegalities blemished the real hunters and the FKNK, even though these were not to blame.

The federation praised the quick and timely action of the off duty policemen who caught the people who implemented this act.