An estimated 18,000 hunters took to the countryside for the first Sunday of the summer quail hunting season.
Police Spokesperson Vyronas Vyronos stated on the Alpha Summer program that the police, since early July, have been following a specific plan regarding rural policing, with the aim of preventing fires. In this context, patrols and inspections were carried out in anticipation of the first summer outing for the “fassa” in the mountainous areas. The results, according to Mr. Vyronos, were particularly encouraging. Dozens of inspections were carried out, and only a few isolated violations were recorded—a fact which, as he noted, demonstrates the hunters’ responsibility and discipline.The violations involved the transport of firearms into prohibited areas, as well as hunting in unauthorized areas.
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The Police Spokesperson emphasized that the operations were carried out in cooperation with other relevant agencies, noting the significant contribution of the Game and Wildlife Service, the Forestry Department, and the Fire Department.
The first day of hunting went “without any major problems,” according to Petros Anagiotos, spokesperson for the Game and Wildlife Service. As he noted, this is a particularly encouraging result. According to Mr. Anagiotos, approximately 18,000 hunters took to the fields yesterday in all authorized hunting areas.
During inspections conducted from Saturday evening until late Sunday night, five individuals were reported for hunting in a prohibited area in the Paphos district and three in the Limassol district, with no other serious violations recorded.
Referring to the Artemis.cy online platform and the tools it offers hunters, such as guidelines on permitted hunting limits, he described any violation of the law as unjustifiable. He noted, in fact, that out-of-court fines start at 3,000 euros and, if combined with other offenses, the amount increases.
For hunters who have not yet renewed their hunting licenses, Mr. Anagiotos reminded them that they can do so via the platform, anytime and from anywhere.
At the same time, those who wish to obtain a hunting license for the first time can also submit their application online. The platform guides them and informs them of all the necessary procedures they must follow. Once the license is issued, the hunter can head out.
On behalf of the hunters, Spyros Spyrou, Secretary of the Hunting Federation, was asked to comment on the first hunting outing.
Mr. Spyrou described the fact that no injuries occurred as particularly gratifying. As for the harvest, however, he stated that he did not consider it the best year, noting that the Federation is aware of the reasons. He made special mention of the “bait traps,” which, he argued, pose an ecological and nutritional threat to the game.
He also spoke about the phenomenon of “showmanship,” referring to the actions of certain hunters and their use of social media to showcase their preparations, the setting up of a hunting site, and taking up positions. As he noted, such practices often lead to altercations and tensions among hunters and increase the risk of injuries, since the distances between them are short.
As he pointed out, some hunters are able to bag three-digit numbers of birds, while others leave empty-handed, “empty-handed.”
In response to a viewer’s question about why quail hunting is not permitted in areas where hare and partridge hunting are allowed, Mr. Spyrou explained that this is done for population control purposes.As he noted, not all hunters are conscientious, and there is a risk that, if hunting of all species is permitted in the same areas, some might hunt species that are not allowed.
This, he said, is an issue that will also be discussed within hunting associations. In conclusion, Mr. Spyrou expressed his hope that the government will introduce a bill prohibiting illegal feeding.
According to the proposal, feeding would be permitted only with a permit from the Director of the Game and Wildlife Service and based on specific criteria.
At the same time, he noted that other legislative measures could also be pursued, such as improving hunters’ education and banning the publication of game photos in the media.
