The recent Order for the 2025-2026 hunting season in the Canary Islands clearly defines which areas of Gran Canaria are prohibited from all hunting activities. In a clear gesture of environmental protection, the regional government has banned hunting in several natural areas considered to be of high ecological value, including some of the most emblematic reserves in the south and center of the island.
This is the case of the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve, one of the most iconic and visited areas of Gran Canaria, where hunting is strictly prohibited. But it is not the only one: hunting animals will also be prohibited in the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve, the Barranco Oscuro Integral Nature Reserve, and the Juncalillo del Sur Site of Scientific Interest, all protected areas that bring together fragile ecosystems and endangered species.
The protection perimeter also extends to other areas, from Las Salinas de Arinaga to Bahía de Formas, passing through Finca de Osorio and Caldera de Bandama in Santa Brígida. In the Tejeda region, areas such as Llanos de La Pez and Corral de Los Juncos are off-limits, while in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, special emphasis is placed on the security of the Barranco Seco Powder Magazine, with a designated area where hunting is also prohibited.
These measures respond not only to the protection of the landscape and biodiversity, but also to the need to preserve protected species, such as the endemic and endangered European pigeon. In fact, the Barranco de la Virgen and Azuaje reserves remain closed to hunting to prevent any harm to this valuable population.
The Order precisely details the species authorized for small game hunting—rabbit, red-legged partridge, and wild pigeon—as well as the dates, days, and conditions for their practice, seeking to ensure a balance between hunting tradition and environmental conservation.
Thus, the 2025-2026 hunting season in Gran Canaria is marked by a clear red line: the protected natural areas in the south and center of the island are protected to ensure that the development of this activity does not compromise the natural wealth that sustains tourism and the local quality of life.
