Punjab has started partridge hunting in community conservation zones for the first time, with the government opening 80 notified hunting grounds across the province.
The Wildlife Department says seven Community-Based Conservancies are already registered, following the earlier model used for Punjab urial trophy hunting.
Under the new policy, 80 percent of the money earned from legal hunting and trophy hunts will go directly to local communities. Authorities will also offer a Rs. 10,000 reward to anyone who provides solid information against illegal hunting.
The hunting season runs from December 1 to February 15. Hunting is allowed only on Sundays, at designated locations, and with a valid license or permit.
Officials say the hunting policy puts local communities at the centre of monitoring and conservation. A limited number of permits will be auctioned within the notified hunting grounds, and communities can apply formally to take part in the conservation programme.
This year, 16 international trophy hunting permits for the Punjab urial have already been auctioned, and foreign hunters have shown interest in partridge and wild boar hunting in the Salt Range.
However, several Salt Range communities have refused to allow hunting in their areas. Village elders in Kohali and nearby villages have announced a permanent ban, saying their decision applies even if the government issues permits. They insist that private lands, grazing areas, and crop fields must remain protected.
Residents say hunting disturbs farming and threatens both people and livestock. They also believe the Salt Range is a natural sanctuary for partridge, quail, and other birds.
Wildlife conservationist Fahad Malik said true conservation requires stopping both legal and illegal hunting. He argued that recreational hunting is unnecessary today and noted that India’s full hunting ban has led to stronger wildlife protection.