Punjab Wildlife Department Launches First-Ever Auction for Partridge Hunting Permits

For the first time in Punjab, hunting permits for partridges in the Salt Range have been allocated through a formal auction process.

The Punjab Wildlife Department reported that the highest bid reached Rs. 300,000, marking a significant move toward regulated hunting and community-based wildlife management in the region.

With the opening of the new hunting season, the department has designated large areas in Chakwal, Jhelum, and neighboring districts as Community-Based Conservancies. Hunting permits are now being issued exclusively through competitive auctions.

Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger for the Salt Range, Zahid Ali, explained that last year, two conservancies were established in partridge-rich areas, covering 36 zones, following the model previously used for Punjab urial management. This year, a further 133 zones have been allocated, and new conservancies will be registered to cover them.

On the first day of the auction, permits for 87 zones were sold, generating Rs. 3.0827 million in revenue. Several permits exceeded Rs. 100,000, with the highest bid reaching Rs. 300,000. Officials noted that each zone will issue an average of nine permits, allowing hunters to use up to three rifles and bag a maximum of six partridges per permit.

Zahid Ali emphasized that zones are opened for hunting only after field surveys assess local bird populations. Community consultations with village leaders and local representatives ensure that hunting supports conservation efforts. Under the new system, 80 percent of auction revenue will go directly to local communities to improve breeding habitats and combat illegal hunting.

Hunting will be permitted only on Sundays, and each permit is valid for a single use within the assigned zone. While the official fee for a standard partridge-hunting permit is Rs. 1,000, the structured auction has produced significantly higher revenues.

Officials called this initiative a landmark step in Punjab, noting that it links financial incentives to local community participation in wildlife protection, creating a more sustainable and accountable model for game management across the Salt Range.