KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 2018 Game Bird Shooting Season is slated to open on Saturday August 18 and close on Sunday, September 23.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) outlined that during the season hunting sessions are from sunrise to 9:00 am and 2:30 pm to sunset on Saturdays and from sunrise to 9:00 am on Sundays.

NEPA said hunters’ licences may be obtained from its head office at10 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 or any of its authorised vendors.

The licence fee is $20,000 and NEPS advised that all applicants must have a valid firearm licence/user’s permit and Tax Registration Number.

Hunters are also required to submit a completed Hunter’s Bird Shooting Report Form by December 31, 2018.

The agency cautioned that forms returned after December 31 will attract a late fee of $5,000 and hunters’ license will not be granted until the requisite Bird Shooting Report Form is submitted and late processing fee is paid.

The planning agency said only the following birds must be hunted: Zenaida Dove/Pea Dove, White-winged Dove; White-crowned Pigeon/Baldpate and Mourning Dove/ Long-tailed Pea Dove.

It said the overall bag limit per shooting session is 20 birds with the exception of the White-crowned Pigeon which is 15.

Shooting within game reserves/sanctuaries and forest reserves, and within 50 metres from the boundaries of game reserves/ sanctuaries is prohibited.