PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department on Friday announced the quail trapping season for 2026-27, allowing the trapping of common quail and rain quail under specified conditions across the province.
According to an office order issued by KP Chief Conservator Wildlife Dr Mohsin Farooque under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2015, quail trapping will be permitted with a valid small game hunting licence from now until October 15, 2026.
The trapping will be allowed only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the province.
The department said a small game hunting licence would be mandatory for trapping quails. A maximum of 15 birds per licence per day will be allowed.
It warned that anyone found hunting or trapping quails on days other than Friday, Saturday and Sunday would face legal action under the KP Wildlife and Biodiversity Act, 2015, and relevant rules.
The department said its wildlife staff would strictly monitor the quail population and trapping activities. The season may be halted whenever deemed necessary for the protection and conservation of the species.
Quail trapping will be permitted only through traditional Bulara/Lawa methods. The licence fee has been fixed at Rs8,000, while an additional possession licence fee of Rs300 will be charged, where applicable.
The use of any electronic gadget for calling or trapping quails has been completely prohibited. The department also clarified that shooting quails in any form or by any means is not allowed.
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In case the prescribed bag limit is exceeded, compensation and charges for the possession of protected or unprotected birds, whether alive, dead or in trophy form, will be imposed according to the notified rates.
The rates per bird are Rs 3,000 for protected quail and Rs 500 for unprotected quail.
The same rates will apply to quail trophies, with Rs3,000 for protected species and Rs500 for unprotected species.
The Wildlife Department said the regulations had been introduced to ensure the protection, preservation and conservation of quail species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
