The dates of the next hunting season are expected to be announced today, or at the latest tomorrow, Environment Minister George Pullicino told top officials of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation yesterday.

Several issues were discussed during a meeting, described as cordial by both a government spokesman and by hunters' representatives.

Lino Farrugia, the hunters' federation secretary, told The Times that one of the issues discussed at length was self-regulation. The hunters had made a proposal which had to be examined to see how to give it a legal basis and implement it, he said.

Mr Pullicino assured hunters that the hunting and trapping seasons would be opened and that dates and times would be made public very shortly.

It is understood that, in line with the recommendation of the Ornis committee, the hunting season on land will be from September 1 to January 31 while hunting from seacraft will be allowed between October 1 and January 31.

Trapping for finches will be allowed between October 1 and January 31 and the trapping of turtle dove and quail can take place between September 1 and January 31. It will also be possible to trap song thrush and golden plover between October 20 and January 10.

It is not yet clear whether the lapwing will also be included in the list of species that can be trapped, but this is unlikely, sources added. Another thing that remains unclear is whether hunting will be closed in the afternoons on certain days in mid-September.

Mr Farrugia said the question of whether hunting should be stopped on certain days in the afternoon, because of migrating birds of prey, was mentioned but not discussed. He was aware that Birdlife was pushing for it.

"The issue was discussed and exhausted during the Ornis committee meeting. We feel it is pointless because birds that roost can be killed in the morning. We condemn the killing of birds of prey but those who want to break the law and kill birds of prey will continue to do it unless someone stops them," Mr Farrugia said.

The hunters also spoke about amendments to the legal notice regulating hunting and Mr Pullicino assured them that these would be considered when the proposal for self-regulation was beefed up. The government also offered to help the association by bringing over expertise on drawing up plans for self-regulation.