The hunters' federation - FKNK - has named 13 of its members who disregarded directives and applied for the special licence to hunt during the one-week spring hunting season.

The FKNK withdrew the membership of the 13 hunters who applied for a licence to hunt during the "piteous and discriminatory season" decreed by the government.

The federation said only 23 hunters - 13 were members - paid €25 for the special licence to hunt between April 24 and 30. It had called on members to boycott the season on the basis that the system was "discriminatory" because only 2,500 hunting licences were on offer.

It noted that 99.8 per cent of hunters "flatly refused" this year's spring-hunting season as de-cided by the government.

Not a single quail was shot during this period and the reported total catch by the 25 hunters was six turtledoves, it added.

"The fact that not a single quail was reported shot further confirms the ignorance of whoever proposed such a season to the government, because by the last week of April quail migration is normally over," it said.

The FKNK had encouraged its 12,000 members who followed its directive to report anyone they spotted hunting. They even appointed marshals who were responsible for this task and to note the passing of quails and turtledoves.