THE HUNTING TRADITIONS

 As natural inhabitants of the countryside, the hunters and trappers perpetuate there, all the instincts and traditions which date back to the beginning of time. They form an integral part of the life of the countryside, and you may well discover that their ways can be very different from your own.

And this is how it should be! 

Our wealth is in our socio-cultural traditions! 

LONG LIVE OUR DIFFERENCES!

 The people of the whole World must endeavour to keep alive their different identities. For these differences enable better understanding of one another, and provide a source of friendship, cultural exchange and human contact at all levels. 

How sad the World would be if we were all the same! 

How wonderful that we are so different! 

THE HUNTER &TRAPPER - THE TRUE CONSERVATIONISTS

 Nature is the cultural heritage of the hunter and trapper. To hunt or capture a bird and keep alive is to cash the interests on a capital in regular fruition, whatever the season, and this has been shown conclusively by scientific studies. His presence in areas favoured by migratory birds preserves regions which would otherwise be annihilated in the name of progress. Hunting and trapping are thus revealed to be globally positive for the preservation of natural habitat. The hunter and trapper protects his environment before he profits from it. The Maltese hunters and trappers hope that foreign visitors respect their local traditions and customs. For the Maltese hunter and trapper their passions are their way-of-life.

 Unity, by all means ..........but not uniformity ! 

NATURE IS OUR CULTURE

This literature has been written by The Federation for Hunting & Conservation - MALTA (FKNK) which is member of FACE - (Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation in the EU), the CIC – (The International Council

for Game & Wildlife Conservation), ELO - (European Landowners Organization), AECT - (Association of Traditional Hunting in Europe) and

FACE Med - (FACE Mediterranean Hunting Associations)

THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

The Struggle against the aridity of the land has continued unabated for millennia.

The early settlers constructed miles of the now characteristic rubble walls to contain all available soil, devising ingenious irrigation systems and transforming the landscape into a protein-yielding, life-supporting cultivation, not only providing an essential harvest, but also creating a precious habitat for wildlife and small-game, which was hunted originally to serve as an important food supplement.

For many generations, through calamity, famine, drought and war, this construction remained a vital factor in this struggle for life - literally a matter of getting blood out of stone.

MALTESE TRADITIONAL HUNTING & TRAPPINGSmall-game hunting in these islands evolved locally during the Middle Ages. In 1494, the overlord of Malta, the Viceroy of Sicily, was petitioned by the gentry to allow them to retain part of the local catch of falcons, then a main source.

Later the Knights of St. John also sent him a token falcon as an annual tribute while occupying Malta. But falconry was only for the sport.

Country-folk trapped, and later shot birds for the table extensively, establishing a practical tradition that is still very much alive, game remaining a welcome, if rare, addition to the local larder.

The terrain supports only small birds and wild rabbits. The winged game bagged is migratory, only passing over Malta when climatic conditions allow. Still hunting and live-bird-capturing remains foremost amongst the local hunters and trappers, the hunting and trapping traditional passions being intrinsic to the Maltese way of life.

Furthermore, in the Maltese islands there is a strong presence of hunting in certain of our religious functions such as saluting a local patron saint of hunting, St. Julian, by firing blank shots as part of the festive celebrations. Again on a religious backcloth there is a history of very early mass services performed for the hunters and trappers on Sundays.

The hunting and trapping methods traditionally used are :"covert shooting" - being present in the covert in the early hours before dawn every morning during the hunting seasons waiting for any game birds from this stationary position (turtle doves; thrushes; most other huntable birds).

"walked up with dogs" - having access to small areas of land, walking up using dogs to flush out game (quail; woodcock; rabbit)

"shooting at sea" - using boats to go out into the sea, waiting for days, dawn to dusk, for the passage of migratory wild duck.

"live-bird-capturing(1)" - (turtle dove, quail, golden plover and song thrush) using traditional clap-nets, setting the nets before dawn and using live decoys, waiting and carefully manoeuvring the decoys to attract flying birds into the net area.

"trapping(2) - (quail) setting a net horizontally covering an area of tall grass with live decoys set beneath the net, and waiting to lure the birds to be flushed to the top and caught.

"ferreting" - (rabbits) sending in ferrets into holes to flush out the rabbits for the gun or into nets set at the holes entrances.

Please follow the

COUNTRY-SIDE CODE

DO NOT :Drive onto Picnic Sites or onto wooded land.

DO NOT :Enter cultivated, private or hunting reserves usually posted with RTO painted signs.

DO NOT :Discard any glass, or light naked fires.

DO NOT :Litter.

DO NOT :Damage trees and vegetation.

DO NOT :Clamber over rubble walls or dislodge masonry.

DO NOT :Attempt to release caged birds. These are perfectly legal.

ALWAYS CONSIDER THE LIMITED SIZE OF THE MALTESEISLANDS AND APPERTAINING PARTICULAR CONDITIONS. Ramblers and Sightseers have to expect to encounter

Hunters and Trappers during the open season.

For 2010 the open seasons were open as hereunder, however these may change. So please check before jumping to conclusions.

HUNTING FROM LAND FOR GAME BIRDS: 24th to 30th April 1st September to 31st January

HUNTING FROM SEACRAFT FOR WILDFOWL : 1st October to 31st January

WILD RABBIT HUNTING & FERRETING : 1st June to 31st December

TRAPPING : 1st September to 10th January

The Federation opposes the further erosion of the Maltese countrysideand its wildlife supporting habitat caused by excessive development.

Walkers in the country-side are welcome, and should follow the Malta Tourism Authority’s various proposed walks.

Headquarters at : 138, Conception Street Msida MSD 1831; Postal Address : P.O. Box 26, Sliema SLM 1055 Telephones : (+356) 21310448; Mobile:99474503;

info@huntinginmalta.org.mt; www.huntinginmalta.org.mt

Sponsored and distributed by the Malta Tourism Authority

WELCOME TO ANEXCEPTIONAL PART OFOUR NATURAL WORLD

 The Maltese hunters and trappers are delighted to welcome you amid our countryside. They thank you for having chosen Malta, invite you to enjoy their natural surroundings, while respecting their Traditional Socio-Cultural Passions of Hunting & Trapping.

 THE LURE OF THE

LANDSCAPE To the visitor from Northern Europe in particular, the countryside of Malta and Gozo has a charm all of its own, quite unlike the lush pastures and verdant forests of Europe.  The Maltese rural landscape is an intricately woven patchwork of rubble walled fields, miniature watercourses, and a myriad of impressionistic hues scattered across the canvas by nature, highlighting the triumph of life in arid conditions.  Apparently barren at first glance, the countryside's ever changing variety makes it ideal for the casual rambler and sightseer, with its many facets of rural life, even on a short walk.