Wild bird hunting closed

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has temporarily closed the hunting season for wild birds due to the recent freezing conditions across the State, writes Roy Thompson, C/R Kildare South of the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

The Wildlife Act 1976 (Temporary Suspension of Open Season) (No.2) Order 2010 suspends temporarily the hunting of wild birds due to the severity of weather conditions from Wednesday 8 December 2010 up to and including Tuesday 14 December 2010.

The species concerned are Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Scaup, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Red-legged Partridge, Cock Pheasant, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose and Ruddy Duck. It does not affect shooting of pen-reared birds where a licence to do so has been issued under Section 22(9)(b) of the Wildlife Acts. Applicants for such a licence should immediately contact:

National Parks and Wildlife Service, Main Street, Ballybay, Co Monaghan. Tel: (042) 9748712.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service urges all hunters to respect this measure which clearly has a conservation benefit for the long-term populations of these wild game species.

The situation will be reviewed by Wednesday 15th December.