PESHAWAR: The shooting of the national bird, partridge, will begin in the non-protected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Nov 20 and continue until Feb 5.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the provincial wildlife department said partridge hunting would not be allowed in protected areas of the province and that only licence holders would carry out shooting game reserves, private game reserves and community game reserves.

It added that hunting of partridge in notified areas would take place on Sunday and gazetted holidays only and that, too, under a valid shooting licence.

The department said the chief conservator would issue special permits to hunters for the purpose. Partridge, which is very common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal areas, particularly in southern districts of the province, was declared national bird in 2011.

According to the department, under the rules, the maximum bag limit will not exceed hve birds of all partridge species per gun per day. Besides compensation, Rs1,200 will also be charged for each animal shot in excess to bag limit as value of property.

`The maximum two hunting party (not more than five guns in a party) will be allowed in a game reserve/unit on a single hunting day. Hunting in community game reserve will be permissible only after due consent of the village conservation committee concerned.

The department said hunting in private game reserves would be permissible only after the due consent of the owners of those reserves and that using of retrieving dog would be permissible only on a valid possession license.

The department said it had fixed Rs2,000 for small game shooting licence per annum, Rs3,000 for special permit of shooting for shooting in a game reserve per day and possession license for dog Rs1,000 per annum. Bureau Report