Due to the rising number of forest fires, Chelyabinsk Region government decided to put a ban on hunting in the emergency zones. If fires keep breaking out, hunting anywhere in the region might be banned completely, the spokesperson for the Governor reports. Moreover, the region’s government prohibited hunting within the commons to prevent poaching. The only exception to the rule involves upland fowl, provided the authorities from Moscow forward their approval before April 24, 2008. Then, hunting he-ducks and woodcocks would be allowed on April 26-30, 2008 and from April 26, 2008 to May 5, 2008, respectively.

In addition, a new federal legislation came into effect on January 1, 2008. Beginning from this year, these are only the federal authorities that can decide on the terms and ways of hunting within the Russian territory. However, the state body responsible for protection, surveillance, and reproduction of the country’s fauna has not been created yet.