Hungary hunting law is Europe’s best, says Hungarian deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, President of the Hungarian National Hunting Association, referred to the statutory regulations in force as the European Union’s best hunting legislation at the opening ceremony of the 25th Hungarian Hunting Day in Mezőberény.

According to the President, the legislation created by the Orbán Government is a compromise of common sense which serves the best interests of hunters, farmers and nature conservationists all at once, and attracted a great deal of international interest as such.

Upon evaluating the past few years, Mr Semjén highlighted that the prestige of hunting has been successfully restored with the assistance of the legislature. The new arms law is adjusted to real life, and managed to avoid earlier practices concerning the transportation and sale of hunting weapons that had nothing to do with real life.

Mr Semjén stressed that hunting society has in the interim rebuilt its relations with co-organisations such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Justice, as well as with nature conservationists, including national parks.

Upon speaking about the details of the new hunting legislation, he highlighted that hunting societies are now able to conduct their operations in areas of a minimum size of three thousand hectares and are able to conclude their lease agreements for twenty years. He described relations between land owners and the societies as fair as the owners are free to decide whom they agree with on the utilisation of the given area.

The new chamber legislation also enhances the stability of the operation of the hunting chamber. Pursuant to this law, one hundred per cent of the revenues derived from the sale of hunting tickets is retained, including the full amount paid by foreign hunters. Hunting societies and the chamber may use their increased revenues for the development of habitats.