The spring hunting season opened yesterday to an uncanny silence, as police officers and soldiers were out in force to patrol the countryside.

Weather conditions were not ideal for bird migration, according to hunting federation president Joe Perici Calascione, which would explain the absence of gunshots across the countryside.

“The wind was not right for migrating birds to fly over the islands and only single specimens were seen in very localised areas,” Mr Perici Calascione said.

But hunters reported a strong presence of law enforcement officers across Malta and Gozo, including roadblocks at strategic locations, he added.

The opening of the hunting season came three days after Malta voted to retain spring hunting in a historic abrogative referendum. A government spokesman said between 80 and 120 police officers and soldiers were deployed to patrol the countryside and enforce hunting regulations.

He said this was more than the number of officers deployed in 2014, which was around 70. The government claimed deployment per square kilometre of countryside in 2014 was “by far higher” than in any other European country.

The spokesman said surveillance would be done using drones, a mixture of mounted, car and foot patrols and observation posts.

“All officers received specialist training by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit and compliance with conditions of the special licence will be rigorously enforced in the field through inspections and spot checks on individual hunters,” the government spokesman said.

Hunters can only shoot 11,000 turtle doves and 5,000 quail but have individual bag limits of two birds each day and four for the season. They are obliged to report any birds they shoot via SMS.

There are nearly 10,000 hunters who hold a special licence to hunt in spring. The season is open until the end of April but can close earlier if the quotas are reached.

The government spokesman said talks were held between hunting federation officials and personnel from the Wild Birds Unit to discuss enforcement. The subject was also discussed by the Ornis Committee, a government advisory body, in a meeting on April 2.

In a statement following the referendum result, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned hunters that abuse would not be tolerated and he would be ready to close the season if need be.

Asked what Dr Muscat meant by “flagrant abuse” as the trigger to close the season, his spokesman said: “Last autumn’s hunting season was suspended after a number of abuses and illegal hunting of protected species were reported. Criminal action was also taken against the perpetrators. The same will happen if such illegalities occur this year.”

Hunting federation officials have urged members to report abuse, with Mr Perici Calascione insisting hunters were adamant not to allow the few “criminals” among them to spoil what had been achieved.

Travel advisory

The British Foreign Office has issued travel advice to British tourists telling them to be vigilant in rural areas during the spring hunting season.

It has issued similar warnings in previous seasons.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com