NEPA cautions bird hunters against breaches in shooting guidelines
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
With the bird shooting season in full swing, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reporting that two bird hunters have been cited for breaches and is now urging others to adhere to the stipulated regulations.
In a statement on Monday, August 28, NEPA said that the two bird hunters were cited for shooting in a game reserve in Clarendon on Saturday, August 26.
The entity also noted that one of the hunters was cited for shooting outside of the prescribed time during the bird hunting season.
According to NEPA, the season’s hunting sessions are from sunrise to 9:00 am and 2:30 pm to sunset on Saturdays, and from sunrise to 9:00 am on Sundays.
Three hunters from the parish of Portland were also issued summonses by the entity for hunting without a licence, while four others were issued warnings for shooting near a residential area in St Elizabeth.
“In light of these developments, NEPA is issuing a warning to hunters who insist on flouting the law administered by the agency to regulate the sport. Among the requirements for hunting under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA) is a mandate to confine such activities to areas designated for shooting and to refrain from hunting within game-bird reserves. Hunters are also forbidden to shoot within 40 yards of residential dwellings and to adhere to the time restrictions granted for shooting,”
NEPA
Bird hunters are reminded that they can only shoot zenaida dove or pea dove, white-winged dove, white-crowned pigeon or baldpate and the mourning dove or long-tailed pea dove.
NEPA is also reminding hunters to adhere to the stipulated bag limit for the number of birds that they can shoot during each session.
Persons who are found guilty of breaching the game-bird shooting law may pay a maximum fine of J$100,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, according to the Wild Life Protection Act.
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