The amendment to the Act proposes reflective elements also for hunters on common hunting

With a classic camisole equipped with reflective tapes, hunters will have to go hunting together for boar or game. This obligation is proposed by an amendment to the Hunting Act, which could come into effect next year.

"It would mean obliging to wear tape or any piece of light-reflective clothing that would allow for greater visibility than hunting clothing," said Martin Zizka, Director of the Department of Forestry, Hunting, and Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Although looking at the nimrody with shining tapes or reflective jackets may seem strange to some, hunters themselves recognize that this duty is justified.

"I have heard that this is contrary to our traditions. After all, we have green and brown. But hunting is also developing," said Jan Buksa, Executive of the District Hunting Association in Kromeriz.

Reflective elements can well help protect the hunters themselves.

"There are also fewer experienced shooters," Buksa said.

It's a common thing somewhere

Reflective elements are already used by hunters in the Vsetín region during hunting.

"We wear at least a hatband, but special vests are no exception. It is in everyone's interest to be seen," said Michal, the chairman of the Vsetín district hunting association, who sees no problem in the measure.

"The beast of color doesn't make any difference, so even reflective jackets won't tell us," he added.

The amendment to the Hunting Act also addresses other important points, such as the overgrowth of wildlife, which causes damage to farmers every year.

Hunters should now establish a hunting plan, which will then be approved by officials and whose compliance will have to be demonstrated. For example, sending wild boar tails to veterinarians. If the plan was not fulfilled, the hunters would face a fine.

"I don't see a problem with that. But we still find it difficult to fish in large fields of rapeseed or corn. These are almost everywhere today. And the game is growing there, also because unruly people are driving them out of the forest," Buksa remarked.

Moreover, hunters must pay damages caused by the game to farmers. This could also be partially solved by the amendment - the Ministry of Agriculture proposes that farmers should not be able to claim damage caused in more than 30 hectares of fields planted with a single crop.