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Hunting

Hunting

Love it or hate it, Cyprus has had a culture of hunting for generations. Hunting season is normally between September and October. Hunters can use dogs to hunt game such as pheasant, snipe, quail, crow, magpie, and rabbit. It's absolutely prohibited to shoot any bird that isn't on the list issued to hunters, especially birds of prey. Hunting for small game doesn't allow dogs and is mainly for smaller migratory bird species.

The Game and Wild Bird Law. Covers Hunting Season, Hunting Animals, Hunting Regions and Hunting Days. North Cyprus has its own Hunting Federation who oversee and govern hunters and the issuing of licences. They're also involved in breeding programmes to replenish stock and conduct patrols, to ensure hunters are compliant with the laws. Over recent years environmental groups, biologist groups and the public, have voiced concerns about decimation of wildlife, the rise in the number of illegal hunters being caught and the use of illegal hunting methods to trap song birds. Hunting will always be a sensitive issue, but other detrimental effects on the natural habitat are also to blame for decreases in bird population, such as major road building projects and prolific property development. In addition to permanent game protection zones and no hunting zones, it's forbidden to hunt, kill, catch or chase any game or wild birds in the following areas:

500 metres or closer to dams and ponds
300 metres or closer to picnic areas
300 metres or closer to Eleousa Monastery
200 metres or closer to residential areas
200 metres or closer to the Tashkent Nature Park
200 metres or closer to the Central Prison buildings
200 metres or closer to Haspolat Treatment Plants
200 metres or closer of all shooting ranges
200 metres or closer to the new Ercan Airport runway construction
200 metres or closer to universities
200 metres or closer to formalized corral areas
200 metres or closer to Muratağa, Atlılar and Sandallar martyrdoms and massacre pits
100 metres or closer to the Animal Waste Storage Area
The TRNC Flag drawn on the rocks over the Tashkent village
200 metres or closer to the adjacent meteorological station

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