Newsroom
The hunting season had barely begun before some hunters apparently decided the rules were more of a suggestion.
Police carried out more than 300 checks across Cyprus on the first day of the season, resulting in 12 out-of-court fines for a range of hunting-related offences.
The violations included transporting an assembled hunting rifle inside a vehicle, pursuing game in a prohibited area and carrying a firearm where hunting is not allowed.
Meanwhile, Stroumpi Police Station is investigating a separate case involving two men, aged 39 and 42, over the alleged illegal possession and transportation of a hunting weapon.
Members of the Game and Fauna Service reportedly spotted the pair hunting in an unauthorized area. They were fined for pursuing game and carrying a hunting weapon within a prohibited hunting zone, while the firearms aspect of the case remains under investigation.
The figures offer a slightly less wholesome picture of opening day than the familiar scenes of early alarms, camouflage clothing and roadside coffee. Hunting involves firearms, however, and breaking the rules can put far more than game at risk.
Police said checks will continue throughout the season to protect public safety, prevent violations and ensure hunters comply with the law.
