KARACHI, Nov 5: The Sindh Wildlife department has announced that hunting season in the province will begin from Nov 6 and will conclude on Feb 27, 2005. Anybody having a shooting permit, which costs Rs2,000 could shoot 10 partridges, 10 sand grouses, or 40 of these species in case of a hunting party comprising four or more hunters, having shooting permits. These bird species can be hunted on Sundays only, from Nov 7 to Jan 30, 2005.

The hunters can shoot 15 coots, moorhens, snipes, stints, dunlins, godwits, ruff, red shanks, curlew and other ducks, excluding the protected species like spot bill, cotton teal, lesser whistling teal and marbelled teal. A hunting party, comprising four or more persons, can shoot 60 birds. These birds could be hunted on Saturdays and Sundays.

No bag limit has been specified for shooting quails, for which the hunting season has already begun from Aug 1, 2004, and would conclude on Jan 30, 2005. The Khirthar National Park, wildlife sanctuaries, game reserves, cantonment areas, besides the Pakistan Air Force Base, Bholari, shall remain closed for hunting.

Some 43 talukas have been declared "closed" for hunting in this season. These are: Mahal Kharochhan, Mirpur Sakro, Sujawal, Jati, Tando Mohammad Khan, Hyderabad, Qasimabad, Latifabad, Samaro, Digri, Kunri, Diplo, Chhachhro, Mithi, Tando Bago, Shaheed Fazil Rahu, Badin, Mahal Kohistan, Thano Bula Khan, Kotri, Sehwan, Mehar, Sarhari, Sindhri, Tando Adam, Khipro, Sinjhoro, Sakrand, Faiz Ganj, Bhirya, Sobho Dero, Thari Mirwah, Nara, Khairpur, Rohri, Ghotki, Khanpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Ghari Khero, Shikarpur, Larkana, Mirokhan and Kambar.

Some 46 talukas have been declared "opened" and hunters are allowed in these areas, which are: Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi South, Karachi Central Karachi Malir, Thatta, Ghora Bari, Shah Bander, Keti Bander, Mirpur Bathoro, Pithoro, Umerkot, Nagarparkar, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Hala, Matli, Talhar, Mirpur Khas, Jam Nawaz Ali, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Dadu, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Daulat Pur, Nawabshah, Moro, Naushehro Feroz, Kandiaro, Kingri, Sanghar, Kot Digi, Pano Aqil, Gambat, Sukkur, Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro, Thul, Kashmore, Garhi Yasin, Lakhi Ghulam Shah, Warah, Shahdadkot, Dokri and Ratodero.

The "closed" and "opened" areas are usually interchanged. The areas are usually closed for one hunting season to provide some relief to the birds species, so that their population could recover from the massacre carried out during the hunting season when these areas were open.