All the amendments presented for the protection of agricultural crops and biodiversity.
Improve the hunting calendar by making the season easier for all hunters, with clear rules protecting both enthusiasts and biodiversity. Federcaccia and Enalcaccia, which together represent approximately 70% of Umbrian hunters, have submitted their concerns to the competent regional councilor, Roberto Morroni, in a letter signed by the two regional presidents, Giovanni Selvi (FIDC) and Francesco Ragni (ENAL). Morroni's proposal for a hunting calendar was based on the latter's presentation during the last wildlife consultation. Based on a number of key considerations and principles, such as the climate and morphology of the Umbrian region, the protection of agricultural crops from damage by wild fauna, and the permitted hunting periods for all huntable species, the two associations have proposed the following changes to the regional hunting calendar for the 2020-21 season.
• Pre-opening: two half days - up to 13 pm - on Wednesday 2 and Sunday 6 September, exclusively as a temporary stakeout, fixed with live calls and stalking for aquatic species of turtledove, garganey, teal and jay. An additional half day on 13 September - until 13 pm - exclusively with the help of the owned dog, pointing or hunting, to the quail species (in the meadows, stubble and mowed). The hunter who carries out hunting quail must wear a high visibility clothing item.
• Wood pigeon: considering appeals and previous jurisprudence, we assume two huntable periods: a) from 20 September to 31 January 2021; b) from 1 October to 10 February 2021.
• Huntable species and periodsa) from September 20 to December 13, 2020, for the hare species; b) from October 11, 2020, to January 10, 2021, for the wild boar species in the permitted forms, with the possibility, pursuant to Regional Law 14/94, of ordering interventions on the species from September 20 to October 10, 2020, and during January 2021, to protect existing agricultural crops and complete culling plans. Given the current situation due to the Coronavirus, which effectively prevents the implementation of the containment plan envisaged by this Administration, we believe that to limit damage to agricultural crops, it is necessary to schedule the opening of the hunting season for this species as soon as possible. Having evaluated the harvest data from previous hunting seasons, it is clear that October is the most effective period for culling; c) from October 1 to February 10, 2021, for the hooded crow, magpie, and fox species, the latter according to the same procedures established for January; d) selective hunting of fallow deer, roe deer, red deer, and mouflon is authorized by a specific management act, in accordance with the procedures established by Regional Regulation No. 23 of July 27, 1999, in areas where sufficient numbers are found, from June 14 to July 12, and from August 16 to October 10, 2020, and from January 2 to March 15, 2021, according to each sex and age class of the species concerned; hunting is permitted five days a week, with hunting silence on Tuesdays and Fridays. The use of non-toxic ammunition is recommended for the hunting of these species.
• Hunting days : During the period preceding the opening of the wild boar season, hunting is permitted on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Between Thursday, October 1st and Monday, November 30th, stalking for migratory birds is permitted for two additional days per week, excluding Tuesdays and Fridays. During this period, hunters must note the two additional days on their permit by simply checking the appropriate box marked "Migratory additional days (Oct. – Nov.)." However, stalking hunting remains limited to three days per week.
• Hunting hours : from December 16th to December 31st from 6,45am to 17,00pm;
• Hunting license : the paper format must be complete with layout and much more visible;
• Dog training and exercise : permitted from 15 August to 17 September 2020 with the exception of Wednesday 2/9, Sunday 6/9 and Sunday 13/9;
• Exceptions : From the pre-opening period, allow for the derogation of the hunting of the starling, cormorant, common pigeon (Columbia livia), and collared dove, given the damage these species cause to agriculture and fisheries, the potential risk of infectious disease transmission, and the damage to various monuments and buildings. Also allow for the derogation of hunting the chaffinch, based on data collected by the regional wildlife observatory;
• Game bag : for the skylark species, it is proposed to reduce the maximum number of animals that can be taken daily to 20 and to 100 for the entire hunting season. Alternatively, for general hunters, maintain the maximum daily bag allowed at 10 animals and the seasonal one at 40 animals, raising these limits to 20 and 100 only for those who practice the form of hunting from a hide using live decoys (skylark). Include the game bag for the red-legged partridge species.
• Prohibitions : at point B) n° 4) for woodcock hunting in the month of January, add the possibility of hunting near watercourses.
Finally, Federcaccia and Enalcaccia recommend that the Region clearly define, in addition to the hunting calendar, exemptions and exchange agreements with other Regions at the start of the next hunting season, to dispel any doubts and provide hunters with certainty.
Perugia, April 2, 2020
Federcaccia Umbra Press Office
Riccardo Ceccarelli author of the Practical Manual for Loading Hunting Shot Cartridges, from the book How a Hunting and Shooting Rifle is Made and co-author of the Practical Manual of Hunting Veterinary Medicine, as well as Marketing Manager of the Cacciainfiera Group, founder and President of the Calibro 16 Club and communications consultant for numerous gunmaking companies.
