Castilla y León authorizes European turtle dove hunting in 682 estates

The Junta de Castilla y León has issued Order AGR/743/2026 to regulate the 2026 medium hunting season. The decree maintains the existing quota‑based hunt for quail and, for the first time in years, authorises the harvest of the European turtle dove in 682 designated cotos. Hunters may take up to a set number of birds per coto, with a mandatory electronic capture‑recording system (CAPTURCYL) that feeds data to regional authorities and the European Commission.

Regional Minister Joaquín Antonio Pino said the measure balances the economic and social importance of hunting for rural municipalities with the need for sustainable wildlife management. The European turtle dove, classified as vulnerable at EU level, is permitted only because population surveys in Castilla y León show a stable trend, allowing the European Commission to approve limited hunting under strict controls.