The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has announced the 2026 crane live capture season and issued strict guidelines for hunters and camp operators.
According to the department’s notification, the season will continue from September 1 to October 15. A maximum of 100 camps will be allowed across the province, while each camp can capture up to 15 cranes alive during the season.
Only Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes can be captured under the new rules. Hunters are not permitted to hunt or capture any other bird species. Crane hunting has also been completely prohibited in certain areas, including the Kurram River and designated wildlife refuges in Lakki Marwat and Zarmilan.
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Permits will only be issued to residents of the districts authorized by the department. Crane capture must be carried out using traditional methods, while electronic devices, firearms and nets are strictly prohibited.
Captured cranes can be transported between 6 a.m. and midnight. Movement of cranes from midnight until 6 a.m. will not be permitted. Camp operators must remove their camps once the season ends and register all cranes that were captured.
The department has fixed the camp permit fee at Rs15,000, along with an annual ownership fee of Rs400 per bird. The commercial use of captured cranes is also prohibited. Those who violate the rules may have their licenses cancelled and face a five-year blacklist. Authorities will also take action against camp leaders involved in illegal hunting.