Employees of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia identified 818 violations of the law in the 5 months since the opening of the migratory bird hunting season, from August 23, 2025, to January 23, 2026.
The majority of violations are related to hunting with prohibited weapons, methods, or means, and 8 cases are facts of illegal hunting, which contain signs of a criminal offense, and the materials were sent to the relevant agencies for further response.
Facts containing a criminal offense were recorded in Kakheti, Imereti, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. In Telavi, Kvareli, Dusheti, and Tianeti municipalities, lawbreakers illegally hunted 3 Caucasian brown bears, 2 roe deer, and 1 roe deer, which are protected by the “Red List”.
In Samtredia and Tskaltubo municipalities, citizens illegally hunted from a non-engine-powered mechanical vehicle, using a night-lighting device, the so-called shield, by chasing birds. Lawbreakers illegally captured 11 bald eagles.
The largest number of cases, 301, was recorded in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. 131 violations were detected in the operational territory of the Adjara and Guria Regional Departments, 124 – in the operational territory of the Western Regional Department – Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti, 64 – in Kvemo Kartli, 62 – in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, 56 – in Shida Kartli, 45 – in Kakheti, and 26 – in Samtskhe-Javakheti. 9 violations were also detected in the capital.
Of the detected violations, 631 are facts of hunting with prohibited weapons, methods, or means. In 105 cases, offenders hunted without paying the fee established for the removal of migratory birds from the environment, in 41 cases, hunters violated hunting rules, and in 33 cases, citizens hunted on the territory of the municipality.
In the 5 months since the opening of the hunting season, the department’s employees have seized 595 illegal means – sound devices for attracting birds, the so-called manok.
The number of illegally obtained natural resources during the season is 94 units. Poachers illegally hunted 3 bears, 2 roe deer, 2 wild boars, 3 roe deer, 15 rabbits, 1 nutria, 7 pheasants, 3 partridges, 5 woodcocks, 1 wood grouse, 19 wood grouse, 11 bald eagles, 9 partridges, and 13 quails.
The crews of the Environmental Supervision Department conduct 24-hour continuous patrols throughout the country in order to prevent, detect, and suppress poaching and other environmental violations promptly. In addition, an immediate response is provided to each message received on the hotline (153) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
