The autumn hunting season will open as it did last year on September 1 and run till January 31, the government announced yesterday.

Trapping remains banned.

Hunting on land will be allowed from two hours before dawn to two hours after sunset between Mondays and Saturdays and hunting on Sundays and public holidays must stop by 1 p.m.

To save birds of prey, hunting will have to stop after 3 p.m. between September 15 and 30.

Hunting at sea will be allowed between October 1 and January 31.

The dates were based on the recommendations made by the government’s hunting advisory unit, the Ornis committee.

The committee had also recommended the application of an EU derogation to allow the trapping of turtle doves, quail, song thrush and golden plover.

However, invoking the EU’s Birds Directive, the government felt this recommendation required further information and assessment before it could be applied.