On 21 March 2018, the President of the Republic of Belarus signed Decree No. 112 "On Hunting and Hunting Management", which was officially published on 24 March 2018 on the National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus (pravo.by). According to the Decree, **effective from 25 March 2018** (following official publication), the following amendments and additions to the Rules of Hunting Management and Hunting (Hunting Rules) have come into force:
1. The list of game animals (Appendix 1 to the Hunting Rules) has been supplemented with two new bird species – goldeneye and wigeon.
2. The hunting of goldeneye and wigeon is permitted during the spring (drakes only) and summer-autumn hunting seasons. The dates, methods, and implements for hunting drakes of these bird species during the spring hunting season are established by clause 13 of Appendix 2 to the Hunting Rules.
3. In accordance with the amendments made to note 5 of Appendix 2 to the Hunting Rules, the total duration of the spring hunting season for geese and ducks cannot exceed 28 days permitted for firearm hunting of these non-quota game species, except for hunting using hunting tours. Consequently, within the period of hunting for geese and duck drakes in the spring hunting season determined by the user of hunting grounds, the total number of days actually permitted for this hunt (established in accordance with the requirements of parts one and two of clause 116 of the Hunting Rules) cannot exceed 28 days. At the same time, hunting using hunting tours may be conducted throughout the entire hunting period established by clause 13 of Appendix 2 to the Hunting Rules.
The new version of the Hunting Rules provided for by the Decree comes into force six months after its official publication – from 25 September 2018.