Trentino approves hunting of 13,000 deer despite WWF opposition

The Italian province of Trentino has set quotas to allow the culling of about 13,000 animals – red deer, roe deer and chamois – for the 2026 hunting season, which opens on 6 September. The quota table lists 5,692 roe deer (2,268 bucks and 3,424 does) and 4,101 red deer for 2026, with the total number of permitted kills reduced by 3 % this year and planned to rise gradually through 2030. The plan returns to a five‑year management cycle after previous two‑year programmes.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for the hunting activity to be suspended or limited, citing “exceptional climatic conditions” and concerns for wildlife populations. The quotas were signed by Alessandro Brugnoli, head of the provincial wildlife service, after consultation with the local hunting association.