Italy hunting season begins amid regional legal and environmental disputes

The 2026/27 hunting season is commencing across several Italian regions, marked by varying regulatory approaches and legal challenges. In Lombardy, the season officially opens on September 20. Regional Agriculture Councilor Alessandro Beduschi has called for prudence and responsibility, emphasizing that the administration sought guidance from ISPRA to ensure environmental sustainability and clear rules for hunters.

In Liguria, the season also begins on September 20, despite opposition from animal rights groups like the Partito Animalista Italiano (PAI) and the Osservatorio Savonese Animalista (OSA). These organizations have requested a delay, citing prolonged drought and climate change as significant threats to wildlife survival and environmental balance.

In Sardinia, the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) has intervened to suspend the hunting calendar for specific species, including the Sardinian partridge, Sardinian hare, and wild rabbit. The court's decision follows concerns that insufficient monitoring data was provided to ISPRA, noting that hunting these species could cause “irreversible” and “grave and irreparable” damage before a full hearing can take place.