Morocco sets October 4 opening date for 2026-2027 hunting season

Wednesday 15 July 2026 - 10:14

By: Sahili Aya

Morocco sets October 4 opening date for 2026-2027 hunting season

Morocco has announced that the 2026-2027 hunting season will officially begin on October 4 across the country, as authorities continue efforts to promote sustainable wildlife management and preserve natural resources.

The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) confirmed the date following a meeting of the Higher Hunting Council, which reviewed regulatory measures, wildlife conditions and management priorities for the upcoming season.

New framework for responsible hunting practices

The Higher Hunting Council examined the results of the previous 2025-2026 season and adopted measures designed to ensure that hunting activities remain scientifically monitored and environmentally responsible.

The only exception concerns turtle dove hunting, which will open on July 24, 2027.

According to ANEF, the decisions reflect Morocco’s continued commitment to balancing hunting activities with biodiversity protection and the sustainable management of wildlife populations.

Hunting sector supported by national forest strategy

The agency highlighted the positive momentum of Morocco’s hunting sector, linking recent progress to the implementation of the “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030” strategy.

The national programme places biodiversity conservation, sustainable wildlife management and the development of rural areas among its main priorities.

During the 2025-2026 season, more than 65,000 hunters participated in activities across open and leased hunting territories, alongside nearly 5,000 participants involved in tourist hunting.

Expansion of managed hunting areas

ANEF reported continued growth in the leasing system for hunting rights, which has become a central tool for sustainable governance of the sector.

Morocco currently has 1,737 leased hunting areas covering nearly 4.39 million hectares. Among them, 1,424 areas are managed by hunting associations, while 239 are dedicated to tourist hunting.

Since 2020, the number of leased hunting areas has increased by 36%, reflecting growing interest in this partnership-based management model.

Wildlife conservation and population regulation measures

To strengthen wild small game populations, nearly 178,000 partridges from national breeding facilities were released into leased hunting territories during the previous season.

The Higher Hunting Council also reviewed progress in the national wild boar population control programme. By June 15, 2026, authorities had organized 1,414 drives across Morocco, resulting in the removal of 6,339 wild boars.

Officials said these operations contributed to reducing agricultural damage and improving safety for communities located near affected areas.