Indeed the Maltese Government has ended short the spring hunting season due to the illegal shooting of some raptors. This notwithstanding the introduction of heavy fines (max of 2 years improsinment and a fine of 10.000Stg.) in order to curb such abuse. Some of the perpetrators of this vile act have been apprehended by the police and are to appear in court shortly. as in any other civil country justice will be done. Yet our government saw it fit to cut short this season ignoring the right of all law abiding hunters to hunt in Spring. A right which before Malta's entry into the EU, the present government promised to retain unaltered.

You might be unaware of the actual local situation since your views are based on reported fact, which facts could be moulded to suit anyone's fancy. The majority of Maltese hunters are law abiding, no less then their european counterparts. Spring hunting is allowed on dove and quail because no suitable alternative exists and our Governmnent knows this.

Mark Mifsud Bonnici, san pawl tat targa, malta

Spring hunting was cut short by the Maltese Government due to the illegal shooting of some raptors.
Spring hunting is allowed in the UK on several species of birds. Woodpigeon, corvids etc. since these birds are considered as pests. It is also a known fact that raptors are also considerd as pests (consult DEFRA'S website to this effect) by the game rearing and pigeon racing fraternity and considerable numbers are subsequently illegally shot, poisoned or trapped. It would be interesting to see whether the British government is prepared to take similar actions to curb this abuse.
It seems that RSPB and other british birding societies are more intent on interfering in Malta's affairs in support of BIRDLIFE Malta's crusade against hunting rather than similar problems in their own country. Our government rash reaction to this occurance is a result of this interferrence and pressure which unfortunately it chose not to ignore, thereby cheating all law abiding hunters ot their right to hunt

SAINY HUBERTUS HUNTERS, san pawl tat targa, malta

We will NEVER visit Malta or buy anything Maltese until this unnecessary killing is stopped and severe penalties imposed for any transgression.
This hunting is not sport, it is slaughter.
Haven't the Maltese enough to eat without slaughtering the little birds?

Avis Sparrow, London,