Lahore:
The hunting season for quail and other game officially opened its doors in Punjab from August 1 and will continue until April 15, 2025.
Authorities have warned hunters according to which stricter sanctions will apply this year under the new 1974 law on Punjab fauna.
So far, 132 FIR have been recorded against offenders since the start of the season.
The modified law, in force from 2025, made illegal hunting and poaching, cognizable and not written offenses. The offenders now face fines ranging from 50,000 rupees to 5 million rupees and a prison sentence of up to seven years.
According to Punjab Wildlife Act, hunting is only authorized during notified seasons, within daily limits and with a valid license.
Hunting inside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves remains strictly prohibited. The calendar of this year specifies that the hunt for quail is authorized from August 15 to April 15, with a daily limit of 50 birds.
For species of quail fed in the rain, the limit is six per day between August 1 and September 30. The savage migration, including ducks and geese, can only be driven out on weekends from October 1 to March 31, with a maximum of 10 birds per day.
The crane hunt is authorized from August 15 to April 15 with a limit of three, while the Chukar Perdrix and the Perdrix See-SEE can be hunted between November 1 and March 1, with a daily bag of five each. Black and gray Francolins cannot be hunted until Sunday from November 15 to February 15, with a limit of six. A larger game such as Blue Bulls (Nilgai) and Urial can only be driven out with special permits.
Previously, poaching cases were considered renamed and pursued by ordinary courts. Under the new amendments, however, the violations of articles 9, 11, 12, 13, 20 and 28 of the law now have sanctions of two to five years in prison and fines ranging from 50,000 rupees to 1 million rupees.
For serious crimes, offenders can incur up to seven years’ imprisonment and fines up to 5 million rupees. Weapons, vehicles and other equipment used in illegal hunting will also be confiscated and business will be heard in the special courts.
The chief of the chief of the additional fauna Syed Kamran Bukhari said that the fauna rangers have been authorized to record the FIR, which will be prosecuted by the district prosecutors. For the moment, as the rules are still underway, the FIR are deposited with the help of the police.
