2014 Game Bird Hunting Season To Open On August 16

August 14, 2014

The 2014 Game Bird Hunting Season will open on Saturday, 16 August 2014 and close on Sunday, 21 September 2014.

Minister of Water, Land Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Robert Pickersgill approved the 2014 Game Bird Hunting season. The Minister's approval is in keeping with the recommendation to him by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA).

Peter Knight, Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) recently revealed that analysis of survey data collected by the Agency from February to June 2014 showed that the breeding activities of the game birds were comparable to previous years, indicating that current drought condition did not affect the breeding of the birds.

"The decision to recommend a Game Bird Hunting Season to the NRCA is underpinned by scientific research and analysis and consultation with the Game Bird Working Group", he said, adding that NEPA would not recommend a hunting season if it were not confident in its research findings which it conducts annually.

It is mandatory that prospective hunters obtain a Hunter's Licence from the Agency or one of the Authorized Vendors. All persons wishing to purchase a Hunter's Licence must have a Tax Registration Number and a shotgun licence or user permit that is valid for the period.

The Game Bird Hunting Season is regulated under the Wild Life Protection Act. Persons found in breach of the Act, that is, hunting without a Hunter's Licence, hunting in game reserves, game sanctuaries and forest reserves, hunting outside of designated shooting periods, or hunting birds which are not designated game birds as well as exceeding the bag limit can be fined up to $100,000 and or imprisoned.

For more information on the 2014 Game Bird Hunting Season or to report illegal hunting, contact NEPA at 754-7540.

Please read more on the types of birds that may be hunted