The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) announced on Wednesday that hunting season in Saudi Arabia will kick off on Friday, Sept. 1 and will continue until Jan. 31, 2024. Applications for hunting permits can be submitted through the center’s official Fetri platform from Friday. The center stated that the list of species, of which hunting is allowed, can be accessed via its official website and Fetri platform. The center said that those, who are holders of hunting rifles licensed by the competent authorities, and falconers registered with the Saudi Falcon Club, must obtain hunting permits through the Fetri platform. The NCW stressed the necessity of complying with the executive regulations with regard to wildlife hunting. It warned against hunting wild species of which hunting was permanently prohibited, as well as hunting of animals and birds threatened with extinction and birds of prey. Hunters using air rifles must only use rifles registered in their names. It is also prohibited to use any other means that lead to hunting more than one animal or bird, whether with shotguns, fishing nets, or hunting in unauthorized ways, such as using gases, car exhausts, flooding with water, or using means of attraction. The center also emphasized the prohibition of hunting all kinds of animals and birds within the boundaries of cities, towns, villages, farms and rest houses, or any areas where people are present, or near cities and military sites, industrial and vital facilities, and within the jurisdiction of reserves and major projects. Hunting is also prohibited along the coasts of the Kingdom at a depth of 20 km towards the mainland. The NCW called on those who are interested in hunting to abide by the regulations related to hunting. It warned that those who violate any of the regulations are subject to penalties prescribed by the law. The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Special Forces for Environmental Security and other relevant security agencies, will catch the violators and refer them to the competent authorities in order to impose penalties against them, the center added in its statement.