Hunting costs in Cyprus can run into thousands of euros a year, with ammunition, fuel, equipment and dog care adding significantly to household expenses. As the hunting season for resident game opens on Sunday, 1 November, attention is turning to how much the popular pastime really costs.
For thousands of Cypriots, hunting is a favourite activity, a longstanding tradition and a way to spend time outdoors. Behind every hunting trip, however, lies a financial commitment that extends well beyond the annual licence fee.
Ammunition purchases, travel expenses, the care of hunting dogs and equipment replacement can push annual spending above €2,500 for an active hunter.
The hunting season for hare, partridge and black francolin begins on 1 November and ends on 27 December 2026, with 17 permitted hunting outings.
How much does a hunting season cost?
Based on official fees and illustrative spending assumptions, three cost scenarios have been developed for a hunter who already owns a shotgun and one hunting dog.
The total depends on how frequently the hunter goes out, the amount of ammunition used, travel distances and the ongoing cost of maintaining equipment and caring for the dog.
Some expenses, such as dog care, continue throughout the year, while others vary according to the number of hunting trips.
Dog care and ammunition drive up expenses
One of the largest recurring costs is feeding and providing veterinary care for a hunting dog. These expenses continue throughout the year, not just during the hunting season.
As an indication, 15kg bags of dry dog food sold online in Cyprus range from approximately €27 to more than €100, depending on the brand and formulation.
The annual cost depends on the dog’s nutritional requirements and veterinary expenses.
Ammunition is another significant expense.
For example, using 30 cartridges per outing over 20 outings would require 600 cartridges, equivalent to 24 boxes of 25.
At an assumed price of €15 per box, the annual ammunition bill would reach €360. Actual consumption and prices can vary considerably.
Could each hunting trip cost more than €130?
Dividing an illustrative annual hunting budget of €2,651 by 20 outings produces an average cost of approximately €133 per trip.
However, this does not represent the direct cost of an individual hunting day.
The calculation also includes annual expenses, such as dog maintenance and the depreciation of the shotgun, which exist regardless of how often someone goes hunting.
Hunters who make more outings may face higher overall annual spending, although fixed costs are spread across a greater number of days.
The 20-outing example is an illustrative annual spending scenario rather than the number of permitted outings during the 2026 resident game season, which is 17.
A pastime that supports several businesses
Hunting generates economic activity for specialist retailers, petrol stations, pet food suppliers, veterinary practices and equipment shops.
However, the actual size of Cyprus’s hunting market cannot be calculated simply by multiplying an illustrative annual budget by the number of licensed hunters.
A reliable estimate would require data on hunting frequency, dog ownership and actual spending patterns.
Nevertheless, the financial dimension of hunting shows that it is an activity involving substantial recurring expenses, with hunting costs varying significantly depending on how each person pursues the pastime.
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