What Steven Brockwell from Pembroke wrote was very much mistaken (Wonderful Sight Of Swallows In Sliema, April 16). I feel sorry for his children if it was only on Easter Monday 2009 that they managed to get a glimpse of a spectacular sight of swallows swirling and twisting among the people. This happens all the time in spring - not just this year but in any past year - whether hunting is prohibited or not. Is it only this year that he managed to experience such a sight? What about last year? Hunting was prohibited then, too. Hunters do not shoot at swallows. I never shot at one and none of my acquaintances ever did in my presence.

I am afraid that Mr Brockwell got caught up in the anti-hunting propaganda of well-orchestrated half-lies and distorted facts, helped to no little extent by a few irresponsible hunters. Yes, there were those who shot the flamingos at Marsascala and the others who shot the honey buzzards in the Qormi valley. Yes, as a hunter I condemn these stupid incidents. The perpetrators knew that they were playing in the hands of those who have vowed to erase hunting from these islands. But still the egoistic sense prevailed.

Notwithstanding all this, one must point out that sometimes two weights and two measures are applied. Traffic contraventions occur by the hundreds, daily. No one dares to even think of prohibiting cars on the road.

The many thousands of responsible hunters who go for turtle doves and the odd quail are still asking to see the scientific study which should have produced hard evidence that the game that is caught here is contributing to the decrease of the species; species considered as pests abroad, where their number seems to fluctuate from one year to the other and for no one particular reason. If scientifically it is proven otherwise I'd be the first one to say I was mistaken and save my gun for the showcase. We are definitely not in the migration path and the numbers caught here are insignificant.

What prompted me even more to reply to Mr Brockwell's letter was two other letters in The Times by David Conlin from Berlin and a Mike Black from Bulgaria. I am getting confused. Interesting indeed!

Ours is a traditional pastime. Hopefully, the European Curt will understand this and eventually we will be granted a few weeks of hunting for turtle doves and quails.

Then it is up to us hunters to see that the laws are obeyed by everyone.