Cypriot hunters are starting preparations for the 2026-2027 hunting season, with the Game and Fauna Service setting out outing dates, strict environmental restrictions and new digital reporting obligations.
Hunting licence renewals begin on August 1, 2026, with no increase in licence fees.
The summer hunting season officially opens on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Hunting is permitted every Sunday until September 13, 2026, as well as on Wednesdays September 2, 9 and 16, 2026.
Under European Union guidelines and restrictions for species conservation, strict catch limits apply, as they did last year.
Turtle dove
The turtle dove hunting season runs from September 2 to September 20, 2026. The maximum limit is six turtle doves per outing per hunter and 12 per season per hunter, with a national catch limit of 15,756 turtle doves. Hunters are required to report each turtle dove caught immediately through the Artemis Cy app.
Quail
Similar restrictions apply to quail, with the hunting season running from August 23 to December 27, 2026. The maximum limit is eight quails per outing per hunter, with a national catch limit of 66,120 quails, and hunters must report each quail caught immediately through the Artemis Cy app.
Dog-use rules
Specific rules apply to dog breeds in designated daily hunting areas. In Zone A (September 3 to September 30, 2026), up to two dogs may be used for quail hunting, but only dogs licensed for thrush or woodcock hunting (approved pointing or retrieving dogs).
In Zones A and B (from October 1, 2026), up to two dogs may be used, but only dogs licensed for thrush hunting (approved retrieving dogs).
Migratory game and thrush
The migratory game hunting season runs from Sunday, November 1 to December 27, 2026 (Sundays and Wednesdays, 17 outings in total).
The thrush hunting season runs from Sunday, January 3 to February 28, 2027 (Sundays and Wednesdays, plus Saturday, February 27, 2027).
Recording all catch is mandatory for every type of game through the Artemis Cy app. No printed maps will be issued this year; the new hunting maps will be available exclusively in digital form on the Game and Fauna Service’s official website and through the Artemis Cy app.
