PESHAWAR, Jan 28: The NWFP Wildlife Department has announced closing of partridge hunting season in the province and has requested hunters to abide by the rules.

An official of the department told this agency that the hunting season had started from Nov 15 and was closed as the breeding season of the birds was starting.

The next hunting season in the province will start in November again.

The official said during the season, hunting of wild birds was allowed in protected areas throughout the province only on Sundays and gazetted holidays. While in reserves, shooting was permissible only under a special permit granted by the chief conservator of Wildlife Department.