BIRD shooting season for the year 2001 is slated to run from August 18 to September 23 and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) is urging all hunters to be guided by the following rules and regulations governing the season.

Shooting is restricted to Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays shooting is allowed twice, from sunrise to 9:00 am and from 2:30 pm to sunset. On Sundays shooting is allowed once from sunrise to 9:00 am only.

Only three game birds; the Bald pate (Columba leucocephala), the White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) and the Long-tailed Pea Dove (Zenaida macroura) are to be hunted.

The maximum bag limit is 20 per shoot. A maximum of 15 bald pate is allowed in any one shoot.

Hunting is prohibited in designated game reserves, game sanctuaries, marine parks and national parks.

Hunting should not take place within the wild life protective zone, which is 50 metres from the outer limit of game sanctuaries or reserves.

Shooting is also prohibited on private property without the owner’s permission.

Hunters should have a hunter’s licence in their possession when hunting.

Further details on the sale of hunter’s licence will be made available at a later date.

The NRCA warns that failure to comply with the specified rules and regulations can attract a maximum fine of $100,000 or one year imprisonment.