Cyprus-Forum.com

[raymanuva]

Nikitas, i can respect the phrase "country life" when it comes to hunting in remote areas... but when they shoot 20 meters from the highway and in your backyard...then they should be arrested and criminally charged for negligent stupidity.

[Nikitas]

Raymanuva,

You are right, there are regulations about minimum distance from houses, hamlets and roads. When that happens report the buggers. These days with cell phone in hand, often more than one phone (like some friends I have) call the cops or the Game Wardens instantly.

Now as to the remote, how remote is any part of Cyprus anymore, with the developers at work everywhere. Hunting should be allowed if for no other reason to scare these vultures away from the little real countryside that is left. Now imagine if Akamas was not declared a Natura 2000 area but a hunting preserve, would anyone want to go build there? Hmmmm

Just to be fair in this thread I must disclose that I am professionally involved in the European Hunting lobby, and have a great deal of familiarity with European laws, game biology and habitat protection. Hence seeing Cyprus' teething problems in the EU reminds me of those early days in Greece when some insincere and often mercenary people used the antihunting argument to line their pockets with EU funds. Which might have been OK by some people's standards had they not diverted these funds from farmers and others who needed it and would have put it to better use. Therefore beware every time you hear of NGOs involved in protection of nature especially when funded for "studies" that word hides a multitude of (financial) sins and the masters of the art are not the Greeks either!

By the way, is it true that in occupied Cyprus they can still eat Ambeolopoulis legally?

[Eliko]

No I am not, I hunt in Greece and other countries, I have not hunted in Cyprus yet and so far have not brought down anything bigger than a woodpigeon.

How big was the Tornado anyway? You mentioned model aircraft.

Nikitas, the model aircraft was apparently about 600c/m in length, at a low speed I suppose it could be mistaken for a game bird, no disrespect to the huntsman (or huntswoman), a jolly good shot and little harm done, quite funny I would imagine, wish I had seen it.

[Nikitas]

Eliko,

There is a target sport, developed by hunters by the way to replace live pigeon shooting in Monte Carlo, (back in the 1930's when there was no animal protection lobby), called ZZ. The target is in two bits, the outer bit has wings and makes the target fly in a zig zag course, (so the name ZZ). When hit the two bits come apart and fall to the ground. It is a lot of fun to watch, more so to shoot, bloody difficult too.

Guess downing the plane mist have been funny, though nor for the poor man who built it and was proud to fly it! I wonder, did they prosecute the hunter for poaching!!!! The court case would be even funnier!!!