On Thursday 5 June 2025, the Walloon Region approved the new five-yearly hunting decree, which sets out the hunting periods for the next five seasons (2025-2030). This decree, which will soon be officially published, entails some important changes for hunters in Wallonia.
Below is an overview of the most important changes:
1. Longer hunt for big game in drive hunting
Driven hunting of big game is now allowed until 31 January, with the exception of roe deer and male deer, for which the closing date remains at 31 December .
2. Hunting roebucks
The sit-down hunt and bear hunt for roebucks are open 2 times a month.
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From April 15 to May 15
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From July 15 to August 15
3. Gray partridge
Partridge hunting is allowed from 20 September to 15 November, subject to an approved management plan. The exact conditions for this will still be laid down in an additional ministerial decree.
4. Woodcock
The total duration of the hunting period is maintained, but the dates are shifted. From now on, woodcock can be hunted from November 1 to January 15.
5. Mallard and Wood Pigeon
To this end, the Walloon government has based itself on the European directives on the period of dependence of young animals. This results in adjusted start dates:
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Mallard : September 1 to January 15
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Wood pigeon : 20 October to 29 February
6. Hunting rabbit
The hunt for the rabbit remains the same: from October 1 to January 31.
7. Exception for 2025: hunting ban at the beginning of July
Due to the late approval of the hunting decree, one is obliged to respect a publication period of at least 30 days. This means that hunting in the new season can only start on 15 July – even for species whose hunting is normally allowed all year round, such as wild boar and fox.
Please note: this temporary ban only applies to the year 2025. Applications for control (for example on wild boar) remain possible during this period.
More information?
The complete hunting decree will soon be available on www.chasse.be. In addition, the RSHCB is publishing a special edition of the journal Chasse & Nature with an extensive analysis of these changes.
Source: https://www.chasse.be/news/l-agw-quinquennal-d-ouverture-2025-2030.html
