Waterfowl hunting has to be sustainable!

Barnacle Geese in October
Photo: P. Vissak

Call by Estonian Ornithological Society and Estonian Hunters’ Society 
in relation to the beginning of waterfowl hunting season

Due to disagreeable incidents during the last year’s waterfowl hunting season, Estonian Ornithological Society and Estonian Hunters’ Society call hunters for sustainable hunting practice throughout this year’s season, having respect for legislation and habitude. The waterfowl hunting season began on 20th August.

To achieve the upper-mentioned goal we consider essential to remind everyone of following:
- the hunter is always hunting in a sustainable way, considering the game area conditions; the hunter may never kill the animals for fun;

- the hunter shoots exactly as many fowl, as he and his companions need, while everything shot will be consumed;

- the hunter must not shoot the game further than the distance of confident hit;

- before shooting the hunter makes sure that this particular game species is allowed to hunt on;

- using leaden duck shots for hunting waterfowl is forbidden, as lead is toxic and harmful for man’s health and nature in general;

- we conjure hunting tour operators and hunting license issuers to explain foreign tourists convincingly and in fine detail rules and regulations of waterfowl hunt in Estonia (incl. how many and which species are protected, electronic cheating and calling is prohibited etc.) and follow the fulfillment of there rules.

- Barnacle Goose is hunted in damage locations (braird or fresh crop fields, etc.), not in the sea-shore or stubble fields, where the Barnacle Goose cannot cause any damage; neither is this species hunted in areas, defined for species protection (large number of bird-areas);

- the local population of the Greylag Goose is small and the abundance is decreasing. To avoid shooting local birds it is suggested to begin hunting on Greylag Goose later, e.g. in October.

Wishing everyone sustainable waterfowl hunting season,

Andres Kalamees (Director of Estonian Ornithological Society)

Tõnis Korts (Effective Manager of Estonian Hunters’ Society)

Additional information:

Veljo Volke, EOY programme leader of bird protection

56157088, veljo.volke@eoy.ee

Peeter Hussar, EJS 

5145123, peeterhussar@gmail.com