(Adds KSU's reaction)
Anti-spring hunting lobbyists took their campaign to Mosta ridge this morning as they called for a No vote to ensure the countryside remained accessible for all.
Kevin Mercieca, a One TV presenter, said it was unfair that almost 80 per cent of the countryside in spring was a potential hunting ground to be used by 10,000 hunters denying access to the rest of the population.
Mr Mercieca said he came from a family of hunters. “My father is a hunter as are other members of my family. We respect each other but on spring hunting I disagree because it is the time when birds migrate to breed.”
He said hunters had to be applauded for engaging in conservation work such as the planting of trees but argued spring was the time when people ventured out into the countryside.
“I am not speaking of private land but public land that is occupied by hunters to the detriment of the wider population. This is about the common good,” Mr Mercieca said.
TV personality Moira Delia said many people found the countryside inaccessible in spring because of hunters. “We have had reports of families being hit by a shower of lead,” she said.
The No campaign under the banner SHout (spring hunting out) also unveiled two ambassadors: blogger Alison Bezzina and actress Jo Caruana.
The referendum asking people whether they want to retain spring hunting will be held on April 11.
Claim "alarmist and provocative" - hunters
In a reaction, St Hubert Hunters (KSU) said it considered Shout’s claim that the public was excluded from 80 per cent of the Maltese countryside due to spring hunting as “alarmist and provocative”.
It said Mepa’s Environment Report defined 70 per cent (220.50 kilometres square) of Malta’s 315 kilometres square land mass as being countryside, of which 51 per cent (160 kilometres square) was agricultural land with access rights only granted by the owner or tenant, whether or not spring hunting occured.
This left an area of 60.5 kilometres square, including 17.5 kilometres square designated as nature reserves accessible to the public where hunting was forbidden.
The remaining 43 kilometres square consisted of private property, leased land with no public access that was not agricultural and public land with free public access.
KSU said that, by banning spring hunting, the current areas accessible to the public would not alter.
“KSU consider this provocation by SHout as an impingement on the hunter’s right to the enjoyment of private property or to lands upon which they have every right to enjoy legal spring hunting.
“KSU emphasise that the free enjoyment of Malta’s countryside is evidenced by the thousands of people seen in the countryside throughout the year where any hunting season makes no difference to their numbers.”