Wood Pigeon Now “Vulnerable”: Legal Hunting Resumes in France Despite Conservation Status

The French government has officially reinstated the hunting of the European Turtle Dove for the 2026-2027 season. A ministerial decree now permits hunters to harvest 12,000 turtle doves starting August 30th across mainland France.

The revised hunting quota, which has been increased, has sparked outrage from the Bird Protection League, which is concerned about a decision that overlooks scientific data. « This decision is based on an incomplete interpretation of European scientific findings. While some indicators suggest improvements at the level of the western migration route, the populations that are hunted in France do not experience the same recovery ».

The hunting of the European Turtle Dove had been suspended in France back in 2021 due to alarming declines in their populations. This migratory bird has seen its population decrease by fivefold over forty years in Europe, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified it as a « vulnerable » species.

In France, the turtle dove population has halved since the start of the 21st century, according to reports. Their hunting has now been reauthorized even though there has been no observed increase in bird numbers in the country.