Majjistral Park was now forced to host hikers, students and tourists while hunters roamed the area, its chairman, Sammy Vella, said yesterday.
Speaking to the Times of Malta, Mr Vella recounted a hunting accident during which a dog was accidentally shot when hunting hours were extended to 10am.
The family pet later succumbed to its injuries, Mr Vella said, warning that a new legal notice further extending hunting hours to 12.30pm might lead to similar situations.
Majjistral Park had already moved the starting time of tours from 9am to 10am, after hunting hours were extended by an hour in 2013.
READ: Park turned into glorified hunting ground, federation fumes
“We found a sort of modus vivendi to organise our tours after hunting and trapping hours were extended to 10am and schools, families and hotels eventually got used to it,” Mr Vella said, insisting that the longer hours “ruined” a system that allowed both hunters and hikers to enjoy the park.
Tourists who often visited the park would be shocked at the sight of hunters and could even try to stop them
“I’m not against hunting. I’m against the extension of hours that hinders people from being able to enjoy the countryside,” Mr Vella said.
He pointed out that hikes often took place in the morning and that activities for children had to be organised before 2pm, during school hours.
Nature was at its best in autumn, after the summer drought, he continued.
Mr Vella warned against confrontations that could occur as a result of hunters roaming the same park. Tourists who often visited the park would be shocked at the sight of hunters and could even try to stop them, possibly resulting in an argument.
“How terrifying would it be for these people to try to hold their own with someone holding a gun,” he said.
An online petition against the extension of hunting and trapping hours racked up over 4,000 signatures in under a month.
MPs were also contacted in an attempt to reverse the decision.
The pleas did not fall on deaf ears. Last week, PD members Godfrey Farrugia and Marlene Farrugia submitted a parliamentary motion against the legal notice, accusing the Environment Ministry of breaching the Environment Protection Act.