Many of Greece's 300,000 hunters railed against ecologists when last February the agriculture ministry declared it would cut the hunting season short. Eliminating February hunting was the government's initial response to the European Parliament warning to bring Greece to court for alleged violations of its wild bird directive.

However hunters - organized into 241 clubs, seven organizations and the Greek Hunting Federation - responded with protests and irate brochures and letters. The result was a compromise by July. When the season opened on August 20, the previous February 28 season ending was preserved, however new restrictions were imposed on the 40-some animals hunted throughout the country.

The new rules
The most drastic change is the elimination of February hunting for waterfowl and birds with coastal habitats. The season for this game now only spans September 19 and January 31, with stricter limits on the number of such birds per hunter. Eleven of the remaining non-water-habitat bird species can still be hunted up to the last day of February, unless they overlap with the migratory bird zones.

The main concern voiced by environmental organizations like the Ornithological Society of Greece, the Hellenic Wildlife Hospital in Aegina and the EU's Ornis Committee is that birds not be killed as they return from Africa in early spring for nesting.

Pheasant and magpie hunting has been limited to fewer regions and woodcock hunting to fewer hours. Of the five mammals hunted outside National Hunting Sites, wild rabbits, foxes and beech martins season is daily between September 15 and February 28. (Wild rabbits in migratory bird zones, however, can only be hunted between August 20 and September 14). The hunting of hares and wild boars (adult boars only) are restricted to three days a week between September 15 and January 10. (Note: Deer can only be hunted in a few of the nine National Hunting Sites).

While in the case of many birds and three mammals each hunter is entitled to shoot unlimited numbers, the law protects rare species. Hunters, for instance, can only kill but one partridge and two boars each. Hunting dog use has also been limited.

General guidelines
* Both a hunting license and a gun permit are required.
* Hunting is not permitted in the country's 580 game reserves, 21 game breeding farms, sea parks, or zones protected by national law or international agreements ( Ramsar Convention, Natura 2000 network).
* The buying and selling of all game is extremely limited.
* Only riffles with single- or double-barrels over a metre in length are legal. Just three bullets can be loaded into these at a time and they cannot be fired within 500 metres from international borders or within 300 metres from the water.
* It is illegal to use automatic weapons, nets or traps. The use of instruments imitating animal cries or lights and mirrors to trick them is also illegal.
* Limitations on hunting are imposed during big snowfalls, when animals can be easily tracked. With some game there are limits to the number of hunters in a group.
* Hunting is permitted from a half-an-hour before sunrise to a half-an-hour after sunset. No nocturnal creatures can be hunted, nor can animals be tortured or transported alive.
* It is illegal to hunt in cultivated fields or to fire upon creatures on utility poles. There are also strict limits to cutting trees and altering natural habitats.

Steps and prerequisites
To become a legal hunter in Greece one must be over 18 years of age. To acquire a legal permit for the hunting rifle one must contact the police. Guns can also be bought without a permit, in which case the interested party has a month in which to legally acquire it or...serve four months of jail. The acquisition of a hunting license (from hunting clubs) involves a bit more. Those holding Greek identity cards or residence permits must pass a hunting test, provide a statement vouching for a clean hunting and criminal record, two photos and a photocopy of their rifle permit and a proof of purchase of guns. It takes between one and three months to receive the license.

The same process is to be followed by EU citizens, diplomats and Greeks from abroad. Nonetheless, non-EU foreign citizens applying must have lived in Greece 15 years in order to acquire a hunting license though they can hunt in National Hunting Sites (which have a fee). Tourists with foreign licenses can only hunt within these sites too.

For more contact:
* Hunters Organization of Greece (2 Korai St, tel 323-1271)
* The Greek Ornithological Society (tel 822-8704)