The government's decision to open a week-long spring hunting season limited to 2,500 hunters who would be granted a special licence, was greeted with disappointment by hunters. (See government statement at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100409/local/hunting-season-announced )

Mark Mifsud Bonnici, Secretary of Kaccaturi San' Umbertu, in an initial reaction to the government statement said that the government decision was 'ridiculous'.

"The government is trying to honour its commitment to hunters, but is actually giving them nothing."

Mr Mifsud Bonnici said he would recommend that hunters should not accept this very limited season, because it would create a precedent when Malta went to the EU seeking a longer season.

Furthermore, he insisted, that in view of the European Court decision, the government had had no need to go to the Commission in the first place to seek its go-ahead.

Mr Mifsud Bonnici also warned that limiting the number of special licences to just 2,500 would create 'a panic'.

"Can you imagine how the many thousands of hunters would react if they all converged on the post offices seeking just 2,500 licences on a first come, first served basis?"

But, he insisted, his view was simply that this short season should not be accepted as it would backfire on the hunters.