Partridge hunting season opens in Punjab
Partridge hunting has been given the green light in specific areas of Punjab, with the hunting season set to extend from December 1 to January 31 next year, as declared by the Punjab Wildlife Department.
The permission comes with stringent regulations aimed at wildlife conservation.
Hunters possessing valid shooting licences are restricted to hunting partridges exclusively on Sundays during the designated period. The decision is supported by the findings of the Punjab Wildlife Survey, which indicates a considerable population of partridges in the region.
Read Hunting season begins in Sindh
The permitted hunting areas include various tehsils such as Gujar Khan, Taxila, Suhawa, Dina, Choa Saidan Shah, Kallar Kahar, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, Kalorkot, Bahawalnagar, Manchanabad, Fateh Jhang, Hazro, Hasan Abdal, Ahmedpur Sharqia, and Hasilpur. Furthermore, hunting is sanctioned in districts like Faisalabad, Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Chiniot, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujarat/Wazirabad, Hafizabad, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and all tehsils of Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Wahari, Layyah, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Rajanpur.
However, a strict prohibition has been imposed on hunting in Rahim Yar Khan and all its tehsils. Additionally, a comprehensive ban applies to partridge hunting in Wildlife Reserve Areas, Private Game Reserves, Defense Establishment Areas, Buffer Zones, Thal Public Wildlife Reserve Areas, and National Parks.
Officials emphasise that hunting of black, gray, and CC pheasants will be allowed under the Wildlife Act.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2023.