Italian regional hunting season suspensions

In late July 2026, two Italian regional courts issued precautionary orders that temporarily halted the pre‑opening of local hunting seasons to protect vulnerable bird species.

On 28 July, the Piedmont Regional Administrative Court suspended the pre‑opening of the 2026‑27 wood pigeon hunting season after environmental groups, including ENPA, OIPA, and Pro Natura, filed a lawsuit alleging an immediate risk to the species. The ban remains in effect pending a collegial hearing on 9 September, though hunting for corvids remains authorized.

Three days later, on 27 July, the Administrative Court of Sicily issued a similar order, blocking the regional hunting calendar’s pre‑opening because the plan listed declining migratory birds, such as the wild turtle dove, as huntable. The suspension lasts until at least 20 September, with a substantive hearing set for 20 October. Plaintiffs also noted the absence of a legally required wildlife‑hunting management plan in Sicily, a gap they claim has persisted for eight years.

On 12 August, the Regional Administrative Court of Calabria expanded this trend by suspending the first scheduled pre‑opening day for wood pigeon hunting, originally set for 2 September. Following an appeal by the animal rights association Earth, the court cited “extreme gravity and urgency” to prevent potentially irreversible effects on wildlife. A collective council meeting is scheduled for 2 September to determine the status of remaining pre‑opening dates.

These coordinated judicial actions illustrate a broader trend of Italian regional authorities responding to environmental litigation by pausing hunting activities for at‑risk bird populations pending further review.