The dates for the autumn season are now public and each and every hunter has to be guided to record in the carnet de chasse the daily catch for the whole season. The booklet is the only document recognised by the European Court of Justice and therefore its completion has to be given importance. If need be, assistance has to be referred to members of the federation so that a true picture of the captured birds is recorded in the appropriate columns.

The autumn season has no bag limits, however, the spring season bag limit depends on the outcome of the number of birds recorded in the carnet de chasse for the autumn season. Consequently, the correct figures should reflect the actual birds caught in autumn, no pluses or minuses, no more and no less.

I have been one of the appointed individuals who checked the booklets for last autumn and I may conclude that more importance has to be given to the recordings of the figures. I have witnessed doves caught in November and December, I have seen the wrong columns used for number recordings which were taken by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority against the interest of the hunters as has always been done in the past. This is not acceptable.

The carnet de chasse has to give a true picture of autumn birds caught.

I do expect to see much fewer birds recorded this season since trapping has been withheld. I sympathise with the trappers who have been denied the practice of their sport – birds may be shot but not captured alive for breeding,

I would like to stress the importance of complying with all the rules and legal practice of hunting. Convictions have been handed down that should deter anyone from committing contraventions. Think of the families left behind while you are out hunting: you should better be safe than sorry and think before you act.

We expect more poachers to become hunters and those individuals who are not able to have self control should avoid going out with their guns.

The hunters should be up in arms against poachers and more education should be delivered to stop this malpractice that puts all the hunters in one basket.

We at Ornis have done our bit and now we expect all hunters to see through their binoculars that the future of hunting depends on their performance and behaviour in the countryside.