The League's point of view
“We learn from the associations the contents of the draft Hunting calendar spread by the Region. The hope is that we can work to improve its contents." This is the comment of the regional councilors of the League Manuela Puletti, Valerio Mancini and Marco Castellari after "the diffusion of the draft hunting calendar, which sets the pre-opening on 1 September, the general opening on 15 September and wild boar hunting from 17 October to January 16th."
The controversial points
“It is – highlight Puletti, Mancini and Castellari – a draft very similar to the Calendars of past years, certainly not very daring. We express strong doubts on two fronts: on the opening of wild boar hunting on Thursday and on the current lack of additional days for migratory hunting. In the first case, the need to increase culling to counteract the problems linked to the excessive presence of wild boars is evident. For this reason, hunts must be encouraged without forcing hunters to take holidays. We therefore anticipate the opening at least to Saturday, if it is not possible on Sunday, but certainly not in the middle of the week. Strong doubts – Puletti, Mancini and Castellari underline – also come from the absence of additional days for migratory hunting. In the draft Calendar, the opening of this form of hunting is currently indicated from 7 October to 25 November, while previously additional days were foreseen, before and after.
A more courageous pre-opening
We ask ourselves, together with the hunting world, the reasons for this choice. Furthermore, even if it is true that it is not included in the draft hunting calendar, as the League we are once again asking for a more courageous pre-opening with the provision of exceptional species, also to make up for some shortcomings in the calendar itself. After the ruling of the Council of State, which agrees with Liguria and obliges Ispra to grant at least small quantities of species in derogation upon request, the management of the pre-opening becomes only a political will. As reiterated in several places, we therefore ask for the inclusion of exceptional species in the pre-opening, including collared dove, starling and pigeon so as to prevent the historic pre-opening day, long awaited by our hunters, from ending as early as 8 in the morning , but also of the finch in the times allowed for it.
The question of the turtle doves
Finally, we wonder what the game bag of turtle doves is this year. And therefore if studies and monitoring have been updated, so that it can be increased. Also because – they conclude – after the request for the return of the cards, the Department's offices should have carried out the consequent studies to adapt the game bag. Mindful of what was not done in the past, as evidenced by the boxes of unseen badges lying in the Foligno civil protection headquarters. In light of these and other doubts highlighted by the associations on the hunting calendar, the League's hope is that the policy meets the needs of hunters and a satisfactory solution can be found together with the associations themselves" (source: Umbria Region).