Opening of the spring hunting season for geese, duck drakes, and woodcock cocks

The spring hunting season for game birds will commence in the Republic of Belarus on March 9th of the current year (the second Saturday of March).

According to the Hunting Rules, the spring season will last until May 12th (the second Sunday of May), but the total duration of the spring hunting season cannot exceed 28 days.

Specific dates are determined by each hunting grounds user independently, depending on the prevailing natural and climatic conditions (e.g., the start of spring migration, the availability of game in the hunting grounds), by issuing a local normative legal act before the start of the hunting season.

We remind you that rifle hunting for non-quota game species is permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, festive days declared non-working by the President of the Republic of Belarus, and certain working days if they are rescheduled to weekends by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. Additionally, hunting enterprises may establish extra days of the week for hunting during the season (no more than two).

Spring hunting is not as widespread and popular as, for example, the summer-autumn "feather" hunt or the autumn-winter hunt for fur-bearing game animals. However, there are still many enthusiasts of this type of hunting.

Traditionally, during the spring hunting season, hunters are permitted to take:

Migratory geese – White-fronted goose, Bean goose, Greylag goose, Canada goose of any sex;

Male ducks – Mallard, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Garganey, Teal, Grey duck:

Male woodcocks "on the display" (during their courtship flight).

Incidental take during the hunt for geese and male ducks is permitted for Cormorant, Rock Dove, Grey Heron, and Great White Egret.

Furthermore, during any lawful presence in hunting grounds for hunting purposes, hunters are also permitted to take wolves, jackals, foxes, raccoon dogs, Grey crows, and magpies using methods and hunting gear permitted for the game specified in the hunting permit.

Goose hunting is permitted during daylight hours, except for the period between 12:00 and 18:00, using methods – from ambush only from a hide (or using a camouflage suit) and with mandatory decoys (using a call and a stuffed goose, profiles, or goose decoys).

Hunting of drake ducks is also permitted during daylight hours, except for the period between 12:00 and 18:00, using the following methods – from an ambush only from a hide (or using a camouflage cloak) and only with luring (using a decoy duck or duck decoys and a call). The use of a call only without decoys or decoys only without a call is not permitted. During this hunt, only drake ducks that have flown in or landed (settled on the water) near the decoy duck or decoys are allowed to be taken.

Hunting of woodcock is permitted between 18:00 and 22:00 using the method – from an ambush ("on the flight line").

The following hunting weapons are permitted: smoothbore hunting firearms loaded with shot cartridges. For tracking and retrieving downed game, hunting dogs of the following breeds are permitted: terriers, dachshunds, pointers, spaniels, retrievers, water dogs.

During the period when citizens are prohibited from using small vessels in fishing grounds during the spring hunting season, hunters are permitted to use non-powered small vessels for setting up and/or removing decoy ducks, decoys, profiles, and retrieving downed game.

We remind you that during the spring hunt, only game bird species specified in the hunting permit may be taken. Taking birds of other species, or female ducks and woodcock, is not permitted and constitutes illegal hunting, which entails administrative (Part 1 of Article 16.27 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences) or criminal (Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus) liability, as well as the obligation for the violator of environmental legislation to compensate for the damage caused to the environment as a result of the illegal removal of the said animal.

We also remind you of the prohibition of carrying and/or using in hunting grounds during the hunting of non-regulated game species, rifled hunting firearms, hunting bows and crossbows, as well as cartridges loaded with bullets or buckshot.

We draw hunters' special attention to the need for strict adherence to the safety requirements of hunting during the hunt, as set out in Chapter 6 of the Hunting Rules. Practice shows that non-compliance with these requirements is the main cause of hunting accidents, including those resulting in fatalities. In addition, violation of hunting safety rules entails

administrative liability (parts 5 and 6 of Article 16.27 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences) in the form of a fine of up to 15 base units, and in case of repeated violation within a year – from 10 to 30 base units or deprivation of the right to hunt.