Over 1,000 hunting violations in two months, as inspectors seize 909 illegal bird callers

Officers from the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture uncovered 1,069 violations in the first two months of the migratory bird hunting season, from 22 August to 22 October 2026.

Imereti recorded the most, with 331 cases. The Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regional division identified 233 violations in its area, with a further 148 recorded in Guria, 98 in Shida Kartli, and 68 in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Additionally, there were 55 infractions in Kvemo Kartli, 53 in Adjara, 51 in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and 22 in Kakheti.

Violations were also recorded in the capital, with 10 breaches of hunting rules uncovered in Tbilisi since the season opened.

Of the violations recorded, 927 involved hunting with prohibited weapons, methods or devices. In 60 cases, individuals were found hunting without paying the mandatory permit fee to harvest migratory birds from the wild. In 50 cases, hunters broke hunting rules, and in 32 cases, people were hunting within municipal settlement areas.

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the department’s officers have seized 909 illegal electronic bird callers, known as manoks, used to lure birds since the season opened.

Between 22 August and 22 October this year, 70 animals were taken illegally.

Poachers illegally killed 64 quail and one each of chukar partridge, hoopoe, European roller and pheasant. Illegal hunting of hare and jackal was also recorded during the migratory bird season.

Environmental Supervision officers are patrolling the country around the clock to tackle poaching and other environmental crimes. The ministry responds immediately to every call placed to its 153 hotline.