Hunting seasons · 2026/2027 · Updated
Hunting seasons in Malta
The open seasons for every game species in Malta, species by species and class by class. With Pro, the HunTracker app sends a notification on the day the main seasons open or close.
On land: Monday to Saturday from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset, but only until 7 pm from 15 September to 7 October; Sundays and public holidays only until 1 pm.
Small game
| Species | Sex / age class | Open season |
|---|---|---|
| Bean goose | Both sexes1 | – |
| Greylag goose | Both sexes1 | – |
| Canada goose | Both sexes1 | – |
| Eurasian wigeon | Both sexes1 | – |
| Gadwall | Both sexes1 | – |
| Eurasian teal | Both sexes1 | – |
| Mallard | Both sexes1756 | – |
| Northern pintail | Both sexes1 | – |
| Garganey | Both sexes1 | – |
| Northern shoveler | Both sexes1 | – |
| Common pochard | Both sexes1 | – |
| Tufted duck | Both sexes1 | – |
| Red grouse | Both sexes10 | – |
| Rock ptarmigan | Both sexes | – |
| Rock partridge | Both sexes | – |
| Red-legged partridge | Both sexes | – |
| Common quail | Both sexes4756 | – |
| Grey partridge | Both sexes | – |
| Common pheasant | Both sexes | – |
| Water rail | Both sexes | – |
| Common moorhen | Both sexes | – |
| Eurasian coot | Both sexes | – |
| European golden plover | Both sexes | – |
| Grey plover | Both sexes | – |
| Northern lapwing | Both sexes | – |
| Ruff | Both sexes | – |
| Jack snipe | Both sexes | – |
| Common snipe | Both sexes | – |
| Eurasian woodcock | Both sexes | – |
| Rock dove | Both sexes | – |
| Common wood pigeon | Both sexes7 | – |
| European turtle dove | Both sexes2347 | – |
| Eurasian skylark | Both sexes | – |
| Common blackbird | Both sexes | – |
| Fieldfare | Both sexes | – |
| Song thrush | Both sexes | – |
| Redwing | Both sexes | – |
| Mistle thrush | Both sexes | – |
| Common starling | Both sexes | – |
| European rabbit | Both sexes89 | – |
Openings and closings by month
January
- Closes
- Bean goose ·
- Canada goose ·
- Common blackbird ·
- Common moorhen ·
- Common pheasant ·
- Common pochard ·
- Common quail ·
- Common snipe ·
- Common starling ·
- Common wood pigeon ·
- Eurasian coot ·
- Eurasian skylark ·
- Eurasian teal ·
- Eurasian wigeon ·
- Eurasian woodcock ·
- European golden plover ·
- Fieldfare ·
- Gadwall ·
- Garganey ·
- Grey partridge ·
- Grey plover ·
- Greylag goose ·
- Jack snipe ·
- Mallard ·
- Mistle thrush ·
- Northern lapwing ·
- Northern pintail ·
- Northern shoveler ·
- Red grouse ·
- Red-legged partridge ·
- Redwing ·
- Rock dove ·
- Rock partridge ·
- Rock ptarmigan ·
- Ruff ·
- Song thrush ·
- Tufted duck ·
- Water rail ·
June
- Opens
September
- Opens
- Bean goose ·
- Canada goose ·
- Common blackbird ·
- Common moorhen ·
- Common pheasant ·
- Common pochard ·
- Common quail ·
- Common snipe ·
- Common starling ·
- Common wood pigeon ·
- Eurasian coot ·
- Eurasian skylark ·
- Eurasian teal ·
- Eurasian wigeon ·
- Eurasian woodcock ·
- European golden plover ·
- European turtle dove ·
- Fieldfare ·
- Gadwall ·
- Garganey ·
- Grey partridge ·
- Grey plover ·
- Greylag goose ·
- Jack snipe ·
- Mallard ·
- Mistle thrush ·
- Northern lapwing ·
- Northern pintail ·
- Northern shoveler ·
- Red grouse ·
- Red-legged partridge ·
- Redwing ·
- Rock dove ·
- Rock partridge ·
- Rock ptarmigan ·
- Ruff ·
- Song thrush ·
- Tufted duck ·
- Water rail ·
- Closes
December
- Closes
Notes
- Hunting at sea is allowed only for the ducks and geese in this list, only from 1 October to 31 January, from a registered and licensed boat more than 3 km from the coast.
- Open 1 to 30 September only, under a national quota of 500 birds. Every bird must be reported immediately, and the season ends as soon as the Minister announces the quota has been reached.
- In 2026 the quota was reached and the season was closed on 14 September.
- A short spring season for quail and turtle dove can be opened only by a Gazette notice for that year. In 2026 quail ran 13 April to 3 May and turtle dove 20 April to 3 May, with a special licence and hunting until noon; none is declared yet for 2027.
- Hunting is banned in bird sanctuaries (including public gardens, cemeteries, Ġadira and Buskett), within 200 m of inhabited areas, and within 50 m of main roads and listed beaches.
- Lead shot larger than 3.3 mm may not be used, and a hunting shotgun may hold no more than two shots.
- A general hunting licence is required, and every bird taken must be reported to the Wild Birds Regulation Unit before you leave the hunting area.
- Rabbit season is 1 June to 31 December and needs a rabbit licence. From 1 September, shooting rabbit is allowed only at times when bird hunting is allowed.
- Rabbit shooting hours: Monday to Saturday from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset; Sundays and public holidays until 1 pm. Shot may be no larger than 3.3 mm, and capture is by dogs, muzzled ferrets and rabbit nets only.
- The Irish and Scottish red grouse subspecies are both listed.
- Source
- Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU)
- Legal basis
- Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 549.42, L.N. 79 of 2006 as amended to L.N. 251 of 2025), regulation 19 and Schedule II; Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the Autumn Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2021 (L.N. 341 of 2021); Protection of Wild Rabbit Regulations (S.L. 549.90, L.N. 207 of 2014 as amended); all under the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549)
- Published
Season information in the app is for guidance only. Always check current legislation and local rules before you hunt.
Every season in your pocket
HunTracker opens on the country you are in, shows what is open today, and keeps every hunt in your journal.