Hunting in Rimini: the Province modifies the Hunting Calendar adapting it to the regional document in the part concerning the ban on hunting Woodcock in freezing weather conditions.
The Council of the Province of Rimini has taken note of the innovations that the Emilia-Romagna Region has introduced with the 2012-2013 Regional Hunting Calendar in relation to the “woodcock” species. Consistent with the European plan for the protection of this wintering species and with the document "Hunting collection by the Woodcock species (Scolopax Rusticola) in winter" drawn up by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), the Emilia Romagna Region approved the suspension of the woodpecker hunt in the face of particular adverse climatic situations.
In fact, the documentation shows that prolonged periods of frost significantly affect the concentration of wintering species and that - consequently - systems for rapid and effective suspension of hunting for these species should be provided for when certain climatic conditions occur.
La Woodcock it is, in fact, an insectivorous bird that essentially feeds on worms and larvae that it finds directly on the ground of the woods. In the event of prolonged periods of frozen ground, therefore, woodcocks are forced - to feed - to concentrate in the few non-frozen points, becoming excessively vulnerable to hunting.
By implementing the regional resolution of 2012 October, the Province of Rimini has changed its XNUMX hunting calendar in relation to the criteria envisaged for any temporary suspension of woodcock hunting.
In the period between 20 October and 2013 January XNUMX it will not be possible hunt the Woodcock over the entire provincial territory only if temperatures remain below zero for more than six hours during the time span from sunrise to sunset and if the average temperatures forecast for the next three days should remain below zero for more than six hours from sunrise to sunset.
As indicated by the ER Region, the weather data on the basis of which to suspend the hunting of the woodcock will be provided by the Arpa Emilia-Romagna Region Hydro-Meteo-Climate Service. The suspension will start automatically from the second day from the notification of the frost alert by Arpa Regione ER (i.e. after three days of frost).
The hunt for woodcock will resume when the average temperatures rise above freezing for more than six hours from sunrise to sunset and for at least two consecutive days and the average forecast temperatures will remain above freezing for more than six hours, from sunrise to sunset, for the next three days.
Hunting sampling, therefore, will automatically return to being allowed from the third day of the notification of the cessation of the frost alert by the Arpa Emilia-Romagna hydro-meteo-climate service, i.e. after five days in the absence of the climatic conditions described above.
Arpa will automatically communicate the frost alert and the end of the alert electronically to the Forestry Corps, the Provincial Police Corps, the hunting associations present in the area, the ATCs RN1 and RN2 and the Province of Rimini. On the basis of these computer communications, the terms for the suspension and resumption of woodcock hunting will automatically start.
Frost alert and the end of the alert will also be communicated by the Province through a specific space on the website of the Entity in the section dedicated to hunting and - if the timing makes it possible - also through press releases sent to the media. This information will also be made available on the Region's website.
Therefore, in the coldest periods of the year, before starting the hunting activity of woodcock hunting, hunters will be required to verify the possible suspension of hunting for this species and its restoration, by visiting the sites of the Province and Region or by inquiring with your own associations or ATCs.
21 October 2012
Province of Rimini