Unverified reports of illegal hunting do not constitute credible proof, St Hubert Hunters' said in a statement.

The association said this was especially so when such reports, which could be used to undermine the efforts of government, the police force and Malta's right to derogate, originated from an organisation that publicly declared its intention to push as hard as it could for the elimination of a spring hunting season in Malta once and for all.

The association said it trusted the government and a police force, which could attest for exemplary behaviour from the vast majority of hunters and who had taken all necessary measures to curtail abuse in line with the strict control measures as part of derogation requisites.

"We also query how Birdlife's other partners, currently in Malta, the German Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) in sharp contrast to Birdlife's impertinent demands claim, some real progress on the same date Birdlife asks for a premature closure of the spring hunting season.

"We fully understand Birdlife Malta's intentions as declared by their newly appointed executive director Paul Debono that spring hunting has to stop...

"But the least we expect is for them and their European partner Birdlife Europe is to make their means of achieving an end to spring hunting a little less obvious," it said.