The councillor Pedro Bestard has pointed out that “for the first time we value hunters and their contribution to environmental preservation”.

The Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) has today published the Order of Closed Seasons for the 2024-2025 season, which establishes the hunting seasons and the hunting species that will be hunted in Mallorca.

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Mallorca publishes the Orden de Vedas for the 2024-2025 season

The Minister for the Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports, Pedro Bestard, said that “our commitment to the rural and hunting world is clear. The hunting sector is an effective instrument for controlling animal populations, improving rural economies and preserving endangered species. The hunting sector contributes to generating activity and employment, as well as being a tool for the conservation of biodiversity”.

“This hunting ban marks a before and after. For the first time we are highlighting the value of hunters and their contribution to environmental preservation. It was only fair to listen to them. Hunting has always existed, since time immemorial, and it is an activity that contributes to natural balance, biodiversity, animal welfare and rural development,” added Pedro Bestard.

The councillor for the environment added that “it was necessary for the European guidelines not only to be used to restrict hunting, which had been the case until now, but also to be used to extend the hunting of certain species”.

It should be noted that a few weeks ago the Mallorca Hunting Council, which reports to the Consell de Mallorca’s Department of the Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports, unanimously approved these significant changes to the new hunting season regulations in accordance with the requirements of the European guidelines. This meeting brought together members of the island’s hunting, environmental and rural sectors, as well as several agricultural organisations, including ASAJA and Mallorca Rural.

Information on the Orden de Vedas

The official publication in the BOIB records the following information regarding the Orden de Vedas for the 2024-2025 season:

• Rabbits may be hunted with shotgun, bow, or falconry birds, without dogs or auxiliary elements from Sunday 23 June. From the 25th of June it will be possible to hunt with the traditional modality of podencos ibicencos. Rabbit hunting will be allowed until the 1st of December and may be extended until the 29th of December with the authorisation of the owner of the hunting ground.

• Hare hunting with falconry and greyhounds will be allowed as in the previous year. This season, hare hunting with a shotgun will only be allowed during the 18th and 25th of August, with a maximum of one hare per hunter per day. In addition, if any breed of hunting dog accidentally captures a hare, the hunter will be allowed to take it with him.

The island’s hunting director Sebastià Perelló explained that “it is a pity that if a dog accidentally catches a hare, the hunter has to throw it away, as this goes against the philosophy of any hunter”.

• The moratorium on hunting the European turtle dove is maintained for another season, and two species of duck are banned: the pintail and the tufted duck, because of the regression of these populations both at European and local level.
• In addition, this year the hunting of turtle dove will not be allowed, as it is not considered a game species in Spain for administrative reasons and pending the inclusion of this species that causes damage in the corresponding annexes of the European regulations.
• The pigeon hunting season will begin on 1 September, coinciding with the first general hunting day permitted by the European Commission for this species.

• Hare hunting with falconry and greyhounds will be allowed as in the previous year. This season, hare hunting with a shotgun will only be allowed during the 18th and 25th of August, with a maximum of one hare per hunter per day. In addition, if any breed of hunting dog accidentally captures a hare, the hunter will be allowed to take it with him.

general system permitted by the European Commission for this species.

• Three dates are set for the end of the season: 26 January for all hunting species of ducks, snipe, coot, partridge (except for the partridge with a claim), pheasant, grey and mistle thrush; 9 February for common thrush, redwing thrush, starling, woodcock, pigeon and woodpigeon; and finally for the traditional hunting of partridge with a claim and collared thrush, 10 February.