Castilla y León announces major hunting legislation reforms

The regional government of Castilla y León has announced plans to overhaul hunting legislation. Joaquín Antonio Pino, the Counselor for Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Affairs, and Environmental Policy, stated that the administration intends to simplify regulations and reduce bureaucracy through dialogue with hunting associations.

Key proposed changes include making the digital seal voluntary rather than mandatory and drafting new regulations regarding the use of thermal and night vision devices. Additionally, the Federation of Hunting of Castilla y León is seeking to have the ‘media veda’ (mid-season) hunting period declared a ‘Bien de Interés Cultural’ (Asset of Cultural Interest).

The mid-season hunting season opened on August 15 across the nine provinces of the region. While hunting results have been irregular due to intense heatwaves affecting quail movement, some areas, such as Burgos, have reported significant catches. The regional government emphasized its commitment to dignifying the role of the hunter and making hunting in the region a national benchmark.