Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Regional Government has already published in the Official Journal the ordinances determining the hunting calendars for each island for the coming season, which begins today and ends on June 30, 2026.

The hunting calendar is designed to be tailored to the reality of each island. It aims to provide hunters with information on which species can be hunted, the period during which hunting is permitted, the number of animals that can be captured, the locations where hunting is permitted, and the hunting methods that can be used.

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, aims to ensure that regional hunting resources are managed sustainably, according to the nature conservation and ecological balance principles, and in coordination with other forms of land use.

In this regard, a management strategy has been developed that is primarily based on technical and scientific studies to further our understanding of the biology and ecology of game species in the Region; monitor the abundance of different game species and other work and studies conducted over the years by the forestry services of each island; monitor hunting efforts; supervise and collect data on hunting days; and establish hunting calendars adjusted to the reality of each island and the circumstances of the moment, which are subject to change as soon as the evolution of the situation justifies it.

All proposals for the hunting calendars for the 2025/2026 season have been submitted, analysed and discussed with hunters' organisations, farmers' associations, forestry producers and environmental protection associations on each island.

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food also informs that the proposals presented by the partners consulted were considered and included in the respective hunting calendars, by consensus among all those consulted, who deserve our appreciation for their collaboration.

Hunting for the 2025/2026 season will remain essentially at the same levels as the previous season, except for the islands of São Miguel, Faial and Flores, where an increase in wild rabbit hunting is planned, through an increase in the number of hunting days, as a result of the recorded abundance levels, which are intended to become more controlled. In turn, the decline in the nesting population of common snipe on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial has led to a further ban on snipe hunting on these islands. For other game species, the population status has not required any major changes to the conditions applicable to their hunting.

"Game species face today various disturbances leading to fragmentation and deterioration of habitats, ecological niches, and changes in the composition and structure of communities. Added to these threats are climate change and extreme weather events," stressed António Ventura, Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food.

He added: “Game species play a fundamental ecological role. Hunters who engage in hunting in an ethical, adaptive and sustainable manner are essential to nature conservation, thus contributing to reversing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.”