JEDDAH: Saudi National Center for Wildlife officials on Tuesday announced new hunting-season dates for parts of the Kingdom.
Wild hunting will be allowed in designated areas from Sept. 1 to the end of January in line with rules on the sustainable use of natural resources and the preservation of biodiversity and ecological balance.
Regulations surrounding the five-month hunting period have been based on experts’ advice relating to the latest research, data, and studies of international wild hunting standards and best practices.
FASTFACT
The NCW warned against hunting within the boundaries of cities, villages, farms, and rest houses, near population centers, or close to military and industrial facilities.
Only sustainable wild hunting will be allowed for 25 specified species in the fall season and four types in the winter season, with details listed on the NCW’s official Twitter account.
Animals that can be hunted included rock doves, chukars, bluethroats, tree pipits, and Eurasian thick-knees in the fall, and Eurasian skylarks, corn buntings, black redstarts, and water pipits during winter.
Hunting licenses and permits can be obtained via the Fitri platform at https://eservices.ncw.gov.sa/ServiceCatalog.
Center officials pointed out the importance of hunters sticking to the regulations that permanently prohibit the hunting of endangered animals, birds, and birds of prey.
Hunting will only be permitted using an air weapon licensed in the name of the user with other methods such as the use of shotguns, fishing nets, gases, water, and tracking devices prohibited.
The NCW warned against hunting within the boundaries of cities, villages, farms, and rest houses, near population centers, or close to military and industrial facilities.
Wild hunting has also been forbidden near to reserves and major projects, and within 20 kilometers of the shore along the Kingdom’s coastline.
The Ministry of Interior, represented by environmental security special forces and other authorities, will police the rules and violators will face prosecution.
