Serbia bird protection group urges ban on electronic lures in quail hunting

Serbia's Society for the Protection and Study of Birds is urging authorities to take action against the illegal use of electronic lures, a practice that intensifies with the start of the quail hunting season. The hunting season for quails officially began on August 15 and will continue until September 30. The organization highlights that the use of electronic devices to mimic male quail calls is strictly forbidden but remains a widespread method employed by hunters.

These electronic lures attract quails from considerable distances, allowing hunters to artificially gather large numbers of the migratory birds in one location. This practice is described as one of the most prevalent illegal means of bird hunting in Serbia. The Society has been warning about the mass use of these devices for years, with past estimates suggesting hundreds, and possibly over a thousand, active lures are used across the country annually, resulting in tens of thousands of illegally killed quails.

Milan Ružić, a legal expert with the Society, stated, "Every year in August we repeat the same warning. We know where they are used, what they sound like, and what their consequences are." He emphasized that the issue is no longer about awareness but about the willingness to prevent it. Electronic lures fundamentally alter the quails' natural behavior. Instead of resting and feeding according to their needs during their migration to African wintering grounds, the birds are lured to specific locations where hunters await them. This creates artificial traps along their migratory routes during a particularly vulnerable period of their annual cycle.

The Society's recent report indicates over 2,200 cases of illegal activities against birds in Serbia were recorded between 2017 and 2023. While illegal hunting with firearms is common, electronic lures emerge as a key problem during the quail hunting season. Field experience suggests these are not always isolated incidents, with past years documenting organized and even tourist hunting involving foreign nationals using these devices. The use of electronic lures is not merely a breach of hunting regulations but an illegal act with clearly defined penalties. The Society implores authorities not to wait for reports but to increase controls proactively before and during the hunting season, insisting on the enforcement of existing laws.