THE 2012 Game Bird Hunting Season opens this Saturday, August 18.

In a notice published in the print media on the weekend, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) said all that under the Wild Life Protection Act and the Hunters' Licences Regulations, hunters must have a valid firearm licences, as well as hunters' licences to participate.

Failure to do so will attract a fine of up to $100,000 and or 12 months imprisonment. Hunters' licences can be had from NEPA at a cost of J$15,000.

This season's hunting sessions are from sunrise to 9:00 am and from 2:30 pm to sunset on Saturdays and from sunrise to 9 am only on Sundays. Shooting outside these times is also an offence punishable under the law.

The agency also pointed out in its notice that only Zenaida/Pea doves (Zenaida Aurita), white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica), white crown pigeons/Bald-pate (Columba Leucocephala) and Mourning/Long-tailed Pea doves (Zenaida macroura) can be shot over the period.

Under the amended Wild Life Protection (Hunters' Licences) Regulations, 2008, any hunter who fails to submit a completed 2012 Hunters' Game Bird shooting report form will not be eligible for the 2013 season.