The Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment has removed five bird species, including wild ducks, from the list of huntable species.
Final Season for Certain Bird Hunts
The ongoing hunting season for certain bird species will be the last. The Dziennik Ustaw has published a regulation by Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska, amending the list of huntable species. Five species, including jarząbka, głowienka czernica, słonka, and łyska ducks, have been removed from the list. The regulation takes effect from the beginning of 2026, as the current hunting season is already underway.
Ministry’s Long-Standing Efforts
The Ministry of Climate and Environment, responsible for the list of huntable species, has been working on the change since last year. This was one of the tasks of the ministry’s team for hunting reform.
Conflict with Agriculture Ministry
Initially, two other species were also proposed for removal, but the Ministry of Agriculture opposed the original proposal. Other ministries led by the Polish People’s Party (PSL)—including development, defense, and infrastructure—also raised objections.
Agriculture Minister’s Compromise
After negotiations, Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski stated in early September that halting hunting for five species was a “logical compromise” between agricultural and nature conservation interests. He acknowledged that these species have little or no negative impact on agriculture. However, the discussion initially revolved around a 10-year moratorium rather than complete removal.
Controversial Moratorium Demand
Later, Krajewski set a new condition, stating he saw an opportunity for a moratorium on hunting these five bird species, but the environment ministry would have to agree to end a 20-year-old moratorium on elk hunting. This sparked sharp criticism from conservationists and ecologists, who accused the government of “trading” nature.
Final Regulation
The regulation published in the Dziennik Ustaw does not mention a moratorium but simply removes the five bird species from the huntable list. Under the law, the climate and environment minister decides on the list after consulting the agriculture minister, though the latter’s opinion is not binding. Both ministries jointly determine hunting periods for game animals. If the agriculture ministry opposes the removal, it could create legal chaos, as hunting these species would still be prohibited.
A Partial Victory for Conservationists
The removal of five bird species marks the most significant change to the huntable list in years. However, for organizations advocating for greater nature protection, it is only a partial victory. Eight other bird species remain on the list, and the removed species were among the least hunted compared to others like the mallard or geese.
Conservationists’ Reaction
Izabela Kadłucka, a biologist and president of the Niech Żyją! Foundation, stated that while the ministry’s move is positive, it falls short of the coalition’s 13-year fight for complete protection. The list currently includes 13 bird species, and the coalition argues that hunting them lacks economic or environmental justification and harms protected species through lead contamination and habitat disruption.
Criticism of Hunting Practices
Conservationists argue that hunting, even for non-endangered species like mallards, harms other protected birds due to hunting errors. Piotr Chara, a naturalist and member of the hunting reform team, notes that distinguishing between protected and huntable species in flight is nearly impossible. He highlights the negative impact of hunting on wetlands, including human and dog presence, gunfire noise, and ammunition waste.
Tradition vs. Science
Kadłucka criticizes hunting as an “inhumane tradition,” citing cases where injured birds suffer prolonged deaths. She also notes that hunters often leave dead birds in the water. Hunting advocates, such as Marcin Możdżonek, president of the National Hunting Council, claim that hunting around 200,000 birds annually does not affect their populations. He has also publicly praised the taste of słonka, a duck species now protected.
