The countdown has begun for the start of the main hunting season, with approximately 37,000 hunters expected to participate in the “opening day” on Sunday, November 1.
As Petros Anagiotos, spokesperson for the Game and Wildlife Service, explained while speaking on the Alpha News program, the season for hunting partridges, hares, and woodcocks begins this coming Sunday and ends on December 27, with hunting permitted every Sunday and Wednesday.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As of Friday morning, approximately 30,000 hunters had renewed their licenses, with Mr. Anagiotos estimating, based on previous years’ experience, that renewals will continue at the same steady pace today, reaching approximately 37,000.
Referring to the number of hunters, Mr. Anagiotos noted that there has been a downward trend over the past ten years.
Will there be game?
Mr. Anagiotos estimated that the new season will be better than last year’s, adding that the successful breeding season and the rainfall are factors in the hunters’ favor.
“We announced this a month ago, along with our regulations. We believe that the weather conditions we experienced in January and thereafter—namely, rainfall—traditionally benefit the game species we have in Cyprus, especially the partridge and the quail. This is also evident in the counts conducted by our Service after the end of the breeding season.”
The Limits
Regarding the number of game animals hunters are permitted to take per hunt, Mr. Anagiotos noted that:
– For partridges, one game per hunter per hunt
– For hares, one game per hunter per hunt
– For partridges, four game birds per hunter per hunt
He also emphasized that each hunter is entitled to be accompanied by up to four hunting companions, provided that this number is indicated on their hunting license.
He also reminded hunters of their obligation to record their game in the Artemis-CY app, noting that failure to report game results in a fine of 100 euros.
The Areas
As Mr. Anagiotos noted, regarding complaints about the areas where hunting is permitted, “unfortunately, in recent years, the phenomenon of single-family homes has created quite a few problems, both for hunting and for the environment. Out of nowhere, in some areas where there traditionally are no homes, houses have sprung up within a year.”
The representative of the Game and Wildlife Service explained that the hunting map is revised every year.
