Opening of the spring hunting season.

Starting from March 14 of the current year, the spring hunting season for waterfowl – geese and duck drakes – opens in the Republic of Belarus. From March 21, hunting for male woodcocks "on the draw" will also be permitted. This year's spring hunting season will last until May 10.

According to the Hunting Rules, the total duration of the spring hunting season cannot exceed 28 days (with the exception of hunting for male woodcocks). Each hunting ground has the right to independently set the specific opening and closing dates for the spring hunting season for geese and duck drakes, depending on the availability of game in the hunting grounds.

Hunters should remember that spring hunting for geese and duck drakes is permitted using the ambush method and only with decoys (using calls, decoys, or silhouettes). This hunt can be conducted during daylight hours, except for the period between 12:00 and 18:00.

Hunting for male woodcocks is permitted using the ambush method ("on the draw"). The permitted time for this hunt is from 18:00 to 22:00.

We remind you that rifle hunting for game animals of non-regulated species is permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, festive days established or declared non-working in accordance with the legislation, and certain working days in case of their transfer by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus to weekend days. Spring hunting for male woodcocks "on the draw" is also permitted on Fridays. Hunting grounds may establish additional days of the week permitted for hunting during the hunting season (no more than two).

Traditionally, during the spring hunting season, hunters are permitted to take:

migratory geese – white-fronted geese, bean geese, greylag geese, Canada geese of any sex;

male ducks – mallards, Eurasian wigeons, common goldeneyes, northern shovelers, tufted ducks, garganeys, and Eurasian teals, and grey ducks;

male woodcocks "on the draw".

Smoothbore hunting firearms loaded with shot cartridges are permitted as hunting implements. Hunting dogs – terriers, dachshunds, pointers, spaniels, retrievers, water dogs – are allowed for tracking and retrieving downed game.

During the period of prohibition on the use of small vessels by citizens in fishing grounds during the spring hunting season, hunters are permitted to use non-motorized small vessels for setting up and/or removing decoy ducks, decoys, silhouettes, and for retrieving downed game.

We remind you that during the spring hunting season, only game bird species specified in the hunting permit may be taken. Taking birds of other species, or female ducks and woodcocks, is prohibited and constitutes illegal hunting, which entails administrative (Part 1 of Article 16.27 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus) or criminal (Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus) liability, as well as the obligation for the violator of environmental legislation to compensate for the damage caused to the environment as a result of the illegal seizure of the animal.

We also remind you of the prohibition of carrying and (or) using in hunting grounds during hunting for game animals of non-quota species, rifled hunting weapons (barrels), hunting bows and crossbows, as well as cartridges loaded with bullets or buckshot.

We draw hunters' special attention to the need for strict compliance with the safety rules for hunting, set out in Chapter 6 of the Hunting Rules, during the hunting process. Practice shows that failure to comply with these requirements is the main cause of hunting accidents, including those resulting in fatalities. Furthermore, violation of hunting safety rules entails administrative liability (Parts 5 and 6 of Article 16.27 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus) in the form of a fine of up to 15 basic units, and in case of repeated violation within a year – from 10 to 30 basic units or deprivation of the right to hunt.

For additional information or reports of poaching, please contact the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for Wildlife Protection at the address: Verkhnedvinsk, Sovetskaya St., 193/2, or by calling the hotline at 6-17-23.

 

Deputy Head

Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

V.A. Goncheronok