The hunting season on land has been set between September 1 and January 31, the government announced yesterday.
Hunting is permitted from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset, Mondays to Saturdays, and from two hours before sunrise to 1 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.
It is forbidden to hunt on land from September 15 - 30 between 3 p.m. and two hours before sunrise and this in order to protect birds of prey.
Following consultation with the police, the government was willing to consider hunting on land from one locality in Malta during these times if a good self-regulation proposal was submitted. If the experiment succeeded, the process would be widened in the coming season.
Hunting at sea, the government said, could be practised between October 1 and January 31.
Quails and turtle doves can be hunted between September 1 and October 30 while golden plover and song thrush could be trapped between October 20 and January 10.