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Mallorca Island Council Publishes 2025–2026 Hunting Order, Authorising the Hunting of the European Turtle Dove

Jun 1, 2025 | Current affairs, Featured, Interview, Portada, Post, Revista Lloseta, Thursday Daily Bulletin, Tradition


Councillor Pedro Bestard criticises the excessive control imposed by the EU over this species

The Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) has published this Saturday the resolution of the Department of Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports of the Consell de Mallorca, establishing the legal hunting periods and game species for the 2025–2026 season in Mallorca. Notably, this new order authorises the hunting of the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), lifting a previous moratorium.

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1 Mallorca Island Council Publishes 2025–2026 Hunting Order, Authorising the Hunting of the European Turtle Dove
2 Moratorium on Turtle Dove Hunting Lifted

Mallorca Island Council Publishes 2025–2026 Hunting Order, Authorising the Hunting of the European Turtle Dove

The hunting order, approved unanimously by the Mallorca Hunting Council, complies with the requirements set by European Union directives.

According to the resolution:

  • Rabbits may be hunted using a shotgun, bow, or birds of prey, but without dogs or auxiliary equipment, starting Sunday, June 22.
  • From June 24, traditional hunting using Ibizan hounds (podencos ibicencos) will be allowed.
  • Rabbit hunting will be permitted until December 7, with a possible extension to December 28, subject to authorisation by the landowner.

Hare hunting using falconry and greyhounds remains authorised as in previous years. This season, hunting hares with shotguns will also be permitted on August 17 and 24, with a limit of one hare per hunter per day.

Moratorium on Turtle Dove Hunting Lifted

As a new development, the order lifts the moratorium on turtle dove hunting under specific conditions aligned with EU regulations.

For the first time, the European Commission has set a maximum hunting quota of 1,794 turtle doves across the island of Mallorca. Hunters must report each dove harvested via a web application within 15 minutes of the kill. The season will be closed once the final dove within the quota is reported.

Hunting will be permitted on a maximum of four days:

  • August 24, 28, and 31, and
  • September 4,
    As long as the quota has not been reached.
    Each hunter may bag a maximum of four doves per day.