War of words as Autumn hunting curfew hours are adjusted

Update 3 - Adds FKNK, Birdlife and government reactions - Birdlife reacted angrily this afternoon after the government announced the Autumn hunting season and revealed that the hours of a mid-season curfew will be reduced. But the FKNK said it it would support the Government’s first step towards gradually eliminating the curfew, which, it said, was unilaterally imposed on the hunting season. The government said that on the recommendations of the Ornis Committee, the season will open on September 1 and close on January 31 for hunting on land and from October 1 for hunting at sea. The dates are unchanged from previous years but a curfew after 3 p.m. between September 15 and 30 has been reduced. The hunting of birds on land shall be permitted between two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset on any day between Monday and Saturday, and between two hours before sunrise and 1pm on Sundays and public holidays. However hunting on land between September 15 and October 7 will not be permitted from Mondays to Saturdays after 7 pm and two hours before sunrise of the next following day. "This measure is being implemented as an additional safeguard for the passage of migrating...