The Game and Fauna Service, on the occasion of the first hunting expedition of the epidemic game, wishes all hunters good and safe hunting and invites them, as throughout the hunting season, which begins on Sunday 3/11/2024, to observe all the written and unwritten laws of hunting, to show the necessary respect to their colleagues and to the foreign properties that will host them and to remind that the recording of the harvest, through the Artemis Cy application, is mandatory and all game must be recorded which were hunted in all hunting seasons.
Regarding the fruiting registration process, through the Artemis Cy application it is clarified that:
• The recording of the harvest should be done from the point of the application called "Recording of the harvest for all Preys".
• The declaration of the harvest must be made before the hunter boards a means of transport, either for the purpose of moving to another hunting area or due to the completion of his hunting trip.
In exceptional cases where the above is not possible, the hunter can send a text message (sms) stating the number of the ID card, the game and the number of game he hunted.
Example text message
000000 Partridge 2
The text message (sms) should be sent to the following phones:
For fruiting in Nicosia province: 99201081 & 99201231
For fruiting in Limassol district: 99201258 & 99201503
For fruiting in Pafos district: 99201946 & 99202286
For fruiting in the provinces of Larnaca / Famagusta: 99202463 & 99203228
In addition, hunters should demonstrate the necessary hunting consciousness, not to create large hunting groups with a large number of hunters and hunting dogs so that the prey has an increased chance of escape and not tolerate poaching during the night as well as those who do not they understand the role of restricted hunting areas and the harvest limit per hunter per trip.
Hunters who will hunt with a dog are also reminded that the identification number of the hunting dogs they will carry in their car or accompany them during their hunting trip must be written on their hunting license and that this may done through the electronic platform of the Game and Wildlife Service https://gws.moi.gov.cy .
The following are also pointed out to hunters:
1. The hunting of hare, partridge and pheasant will be allowed every Sunday and Wednesday from 3/11/2024 until 22/12/2024, on Friday 27/12/2024 as well as on Sunday 29/12/2024 i.e. for 17 trips.
2. Those who will hunt accompanied by dogs must always carry with them their renewed hunting license, have issued the license for the use of hunting dogs, and always have with them the license to possess their weapon.
3. The harvest limit per hunter per trip, for hares is one (1), for partridges four (4) for frangolis one (1) and no limit for other game.
4. Lighting fires in non-designated areas is prohibited.
5. Carrying a shotgun on rural or unpaved roads is prohibited 60 minutes before and 60 minutes after the hours when hunting is permitted.
6. To study the permitted hunting areas well before setting out. In the application for smart mobile phones "Artemis Cy", created by our Service, the limits of the prohibited hunting areas can be seen indicatively. The exact limits of the prohibited hunting areas are described in the relevant decree which was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and is posted on the website of our Service.
7. To immediately report any illegality they find on the following mobile phones of the Service or to the Police at 1414.
Nicosia 99445697
Limassol 99445728
Larnaca / Famagusta 99634325
Paphos 99445679
The above phone numbers of the Service can be addressed by hunters to solve questions about hunting areas or to enlighten them on any other issue related to hunting.
Due to the large number of hunters who are expected to go out, the possibility of hunting accidents or other unpleasant situations increases significantly, and to this end, below are some simple instructions for hunters to reduce the possibility of causing "ordinary" hunting accidents:
1. To wear a hunting orange hat or 30% of their body to be covered with hunting orange as provided by the relevant legislation.
2. To protect their eyes with special glasses.
3. Plan in advance the route and the space they will chase and give themselves enough time to approach the space they will chase or return to their car.
4. Avoid hunting alone and always let another person know the exact spot where they will hunt.
5. To plan in advance how they will act or who they will contact in case of an unpleasant incident.
6. Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages because their hunting abilities and reflexes are reduced.
7. Always have water with them.
8. Do not overestimate their potential and hunt within their capabilities without putting pressure on their body.
9. Before picking up the gun and pulling the trigger, make sure who their target is and what is behind it.
10. Never shoot low and lightning fast.
11. Always know where the members of their company and the nearest hunters are.
12. Never shoot with their instinct or hearing as their only guide and if they have not visually confirmed their aim and what is behind it.
13. Avoid shooting if they are unsure of the existence of prey. Good and responsible hunters always make sure before shooting and usually, they are accurate, due to their composure.
14. Never walk or stand with your finger on the trigger.
15. When hunting on uneven terrain with friends, always check the direction in which the barrel of their weapon is facing.
16. Never run from one point to another with a full gun. It is good when they have to cross a difficult obstacle, to empty their weapon and leave it with the barrel pointed away and at a point from which they can easily take it again.
17. The transport of hunting weapons in vehicles is allowed only when they are disassembled in a case.
18. Always keep in mind that no one can stop the bullets of the cartridge after firing. An ordinary shotgun kills at 40 meters and can cause very serious injuries at a distance of 100 meters.
In addition, the Hunting & Fauna Service calls on hunters to avoid hunting near residential areas or detached houses because there is a risk of causing serious accidents. At the same time, it is reminded that according to the relevant legislation, hunting is prohibited within a radius of 500m. from residential areas, within a radius of 200m. from individual houses and within a radius of 300m. from military installations.
At this point it is worth noting that, according to the provisions of the legislation, the usual offenses that occur during the said hunting season, i.e. hunting without a hunting license and hunting in a prohibited hunting area, are punishable by an extrajudicial fine starting from €2.000 and increases according to the extent of the offense as well as their combination with other offences. At the same time, the extrajudicial fine for poaching during the night is punishable by an extrajudicial fine of €25.000.
Finally, all hunters are appealed to avoid posting, on social media, photos or videos that offend the sport of hunting.