“It gets better every year. There are far too many hunters, the birds are few and far between, and there are very few places where hunting trips take place.”
_{Andreas Krotalias – Hunter}

The partridges haven’t shown up this year, and the official hunting season has kicked off, with disappointed hunters sending out an SOS about the state of nature

.“We’re in dire straits. Nature, the environment, and common sense all said—and continue to say—that this permit should not have been granted this year, given the conditions the countryside is facing, nature and the environment. Nature and the environment have had enough and are overburdened. It’s crying out for help—without a doubt, my dear minister, save the environment. ”
_{Andreas Krotalias – Hunter}

More than 19,000 hunters took to the mountains today. “I

bagged a partridge; I’m happy—I had a great time. There were very few birds because they stayed in the restricted areas—there’s water and food there now. They used to come to this area to drink water; the fence is further down. Now, there’s water everywhere. Fortunately, it rained a little, and there’s water everywhere. I’d like to make a suggestion: partridges should be hunted throughout the entire country.”
_{Andreas Papagapiou – Hunter}

They may have gone after partridges, but most of them left… empty-handed, since the catch was zero. 

“The hunting authorities need to open up new areas; there’s not enough room for us here. They’re good people—they’re trying—but we need new areas. The birds are heading to the larger areas, and we’re left with nothing.”
_{Evros Michailidis – Hunter}

“The game is there, and so are the means,” the representative of the Hunting Service implies.

“In recent years, the partridge population has been healthy, but there are specific factors to consider during this particular hunting season—depending on each hunter’s preparation, the hunting spot each hunter chooses, weather conditions play a role, and whether the area where someone is hunting is quiet or not. All of these factors influence the harvest.”
_{Petros Anagiotos – Spokesperson for the Hunting and Wildlife
Service}
Once again this year, however, there was no shortage of complaints from the hunting service.

“The service has been on high alert since late last night, with all staff on duty. Inspections have been conducted throughout today’s hunting outing.  Three complaints have been filed against three individuals who were found hunting in a restricted hunting area in the Limassol district.”
_{Petros Anagiotos – Spokesperson for the Game and Wildlife
Service}
Most home freezers remained empty, perhaps to be filled either during upcoming hunting trips, which will continue until mid-September, or to make room in November when the hunting season for hares and partridges begins.

Watch the report by Kleio Vourkou: