Two Spanish hunters illegally killed 12 woodcocks, authorities say

Lithuanian Environmental Protection Department officials identified two Spanish hunters who seriously breached hunting rules in late October, LRT reported. The 12 illegally killed woodcocks caused an estimated €313 in environmental damage.

One hunter lacked a permit to hunt in one hunting ground unit and illegally killed three woodcocks there. In another unit, where a legal hunt was taking place, he killed five more. He did not report the birds to the hunt leader and removed them from the grounds without recording them in the hunting log.

The other Spanish hunter, who took part in the same hunt, also failed to report the birds to the hunt leader and removed them without an entry in the log. Under Lithuania’s hunting rules, animals taken out of a hunting ground unit without being recorded are considered illegally hunted.

Officials issued administrative offence reports to both hunters and seized two hunting rifles.