The spring hunting season is open

Starting from March 8 of the current year, the spring hunting season for waterfowl – geese and duck drakes – has begun in the Republic of Belarus. From March 15, hunting for male woodcocks "on the flight" will also be permitted. This year's spring hunting season will last until May 11.

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 set the specific opening and closing dates for the spring hunting season for geese and duck drakes independently, depending on the availability of game species in the hunting grounds.

It should be noted that the migration of birds this year began significantly earlier than usual. Hunters should remember that spring hunting for geese and duck drakes is permitted using the ambush method and only with decoys (using calls, decoy birds, or decoys (profiles)). This type of hunting can be carried out during daylight hours, except for the period between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Hunting for male woodcocks is permitted using the ambush method ("on the flight"). The permitted time for this hunt is from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
We remind you that rifle hunting for non-quota game 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 weekends. Spring hunting for male woodcocks "on the flight" is also permitted on Fridays.
Hunting grounds may set additional days of the week permitted for hunting during the hunting season (no more than two).

Traditionally, during the spring hunting season, hunters are allowed to take: migratory geese – white-fronted geese, bean geese, grey geese, Canada geese of any sex;
male ducks – mallards, wigeons, goldeneyes, shovelers, tufted ducks, garganeys, and teals, grey ducks; male woodcocks "on the flight".
Smoothbore hunting firearms loaded with shot cartridges are permitted as hunting implements. Hunting dogs of the terrier, dachshund, pointer, spaniel, retriever, and water dog breeds 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 allowed to use non-motorized small vessels for the installation and/or removal of decoy ducks, decoys, profiles, and for retrieving harvested game.

We remind you that during the spring hunting season, only game bird species specified in the hunting permit may be harvested. The harvesting of other bird 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 the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses) 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 harm caused to the environment as a result of the illegal seizure of such an animal.

We also remind you of the prohibition of carrying and/or using in hunting grounds during the hunting of game animals of non-regulated species, rifled hunting weapons (barrels), hunting bows and crossbows, as well as cartridges loaded with bullets or buckshot. We draw the special attention of hunters to the need for strict adherence to the safety rules of hunting during the hunting process, as set out in Chapter 6 of the Hunting Rules. Practice shows that non-compliance with these requirements is the main cause of accidents during hunting, including those resulting in death. In addition, violation of hunting safety rules entails administrative liability (Parts 5 and 6 of Article 16.27 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses) 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 on facts of poaching, please contact the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora at the address: Verkhnedvinsk, Sovetskaya St., 193/2, or by calling the "hotline" at 6-17-23.