Hunting season opens on Saturday, with the rules remaining mostly unchanged since last year.

The season will run until January 31, while hunting for turtle doves ending will only be permitted until the end of September. Turtle dove hunting season is subject to a maximum national quota of 7,000 birds.

Just like last year, hunting will not be allowed from 7pm until two hours after sunrise, from September 15 until October 7.

Hunters can shoot birds on land between two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset. On Sunday and public holidays, hunting will only be permitted between two hours before sunrise and 1 pm.

These rules also apply to the hunting of rabbits. Rabbit hunting season closes at the end of December.

Hunting birds at sea will only be allowed from October 1 until January 31, although it will not be permitted from Monday to Saturday after 7 pm until two hours before sunrise.

In a statement, Parliamentary Secretary for animal rights Clint Camilleri insisted that the government would not tolerate hunting illegalities. Laws will be strictly enforced, he added, noting that enforcement will be rigorously co-ordinated between the Wild Bird Regulation Unit and the police to ensure the rules are adhered to.