Criticisms of the calendar
The appeal to the TAR of the Veneto Hunting Calendar has arrived for the 2026 / 2027 seasonA calendar already penalizing hunters, with a complete lack of advance notice not only for wood pigeons, but also for crows. A calendar that brought forward the closure of woodcock hunting by 20 days compared to the legal date of January 31st. A calendar that established an early closure to January 20, 2027, for mallard, gadwall, moorhen, lapwing, pochard, and tufted duck. These six species are all eligible for hunting until January 31st, in accordance with the Birds Directive and available studies, as is already the case in many Italian regions. A calendar that once again excluded ruffed vultures from Italy's most important region for waterfowl hunting, just as the European Commission has determined that the harvest carried out in Europe is sustainable. A calendar that incredibly sets a maximum seasonal cap of 100 birds for crows, even when these same species are subject to control plans for damage to agricultural crops and wildlife.
What is the appeal based on?
In summary, the Environmental Associations' appeal is based on seven points, the seventh of which raises two claims of illegitimacy:
1) Illegitimacy due to excess of power in the investigation process. In short, the hunting closures for these species lack data to justify the investigations proposed by the Region. One example highlights the use of scientifically invalid documents, studies, and reports.
2) Illegitimacy due to excess of power (lack of reasoning) of additional days in October and November. In summary, the appellants request that the additional day for the thrushes in Vicenza be removed and that the additional days for the skylark be removed.
3) Illegitimacy due to excess of power (lack of reasoning), especially for the lark. The appellants request a suspension of the lark hunt.
4) Violation of the precautionary principle (lack of reasoning) regarding the opening and closing dates for migratory aquatic species. In summary, the appellants request that the opening date for aquatic species be postponed to October 1st and the closing date to January 20th, as is the case for mallard ducks and other species.
5) Violation of the precautionary principle (lack of reasoning) regarding the opening and closing dates for the thrush species. In summary, the appellants request that the hunting season for thrushes (fieldfare, redwing, and song thrush) be opened on October 1st and that the fieldfare and redwing be closed early to January 20th.
6) Violation of the precautionary principle (lack of reasoning) for the lapwing species. In summary, the appellants request a suspension of hunting for the lapwing, given that the Hunting Calendar justifies the hunting with the bag, but fails to mention the measures that must be adopted and included in the National Management Plan.
7) Violation of EU regulation for use of lead. In summary, the appellants request that the Region comply with the EU regulation given that Italy is already subject to infringement proceedings.
B) They challenge the opinion of the National Technical Wildlife Hunting Committee (CTFVN). They argue that the CTFVN's recommendations are non-technical assertions with no scientific basis.
As Federcaccia Veneto, we cannot help but acknowledge that the numerous renunciations imposed on Veneto hunters, established by the Veneto Region and cited above, have in no way satisfied the environmentalists, who promptly filed an appeal. On the contrary, we believe that the more renunciations are made, the more strength is given to the anti-hunting movement, which sees the regional institution as a losing force in supporting its decisions.
No to limitations before their time
We also note that the Veneto Region refused to listen to the offer of collaboration that Federcaccia Veneto and the National Studies and Research Office had proposed for drafting the justifications supporting the calendar choices, which could have supported more satisfying seasons and huntable species for hunters. We will see what the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) decides, but in any case, Federcaccia's philosophy remains the same: protection of all forms of hunting, maintenance of the dates set out in Law 157, and technical and scientific support for the Italian regions. Appeals exist and always will, but this does not mean limitations should be introduced prematurely. We hope that in the coming years, the Veneto Region will accept the successful collaboration that Federcaccia has already demonstrated both in Veneto (Ruling No. 2964/2024 of December 13, 2024) and in other regions. (President of Federcaccia Veneto, Emiliano Galvanetto)
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