A separate state act on hunting does not figure in the basis of this material: the rules connected with hunting are represented here through the hunting-economy regime of the Forest Code — the types of special use, the legal grounds, and liability. On this page you will see how this regime works and where its boundaries lie.
The Hunting Economy in the System of Special Use
In the forests of Georgia many types of special forest use may be carried out, including the organization of a fishery or a hunting economy. Among the other types are the preparation of timber by economic felling, the preparation of non-timber resources, the organization of plantation economy, and use for agricultural and resort-recreational purposes.
Several types of special use may be carried out simultaneously per unit of area, provided they do not substantially impede one another. In protected forest, the organization of a hunting economy is possible only on the part of a protected territory defined by the law on the system of protected areas — this restriction determines where a hunting economy may be located.
The Purpose and Regulation of the Hunting Economy
A fishery is organized for commercial purposes of growing and extracting fish, and within its framework the introduction and multiplication of invasive species is prohibited. The organization of a fishery or a hunting economy is regulated by the relevant legislative act — that is, the detailed rules of this sphere are placed in a separate act.
The Legal Grounds
For carrying out forest use for the purpose of organizing a hunting economy, the administrative proceeding connected with the use of a forest area begins on the basis of the application of an interested person, by the address of the license or permit issuing authority or on the initiative of the forest management body. The issuing authority is obliged to involve the forest management body in this proceeding.
Liability and Practical Significance
Liability for violating the Forest Code is determined by Georgian legislation. The imposition of liability does not release the offender from the obligation to compensate damage caused to the forest — the grounds and procedure of compensating that damage are determined by legislation.
For a person interested in hunting, the essence of this regime is the following: the hunting economy is one of the types of special forest use, its organization proceeds through an administrative proceeding and requires the consent of the forest management body, while the detailed rules — including the rules of hunting itself — are established by a separate legislative act.
The Management Plan, the Selection of the Territory and the Refusal Mechanism
The selection of a forest area for the economy is not merely a technical matter: it rests on the forest management plan, the annual operational plan, or a special study. This means that the basis of selecting a territory is the management planned by the state, and not only the wish of the manager.
The management plan of the economy is a mandatory document compiled by the forest user: without it, forest use violates the order. The plan is developed by the procedure established by legislation and reflects the obligations of the economy both in the hunting and in the natural-resource direction.
The refusal of the forest management body to grant the right of forest use is the ground for refusing to issue the license or permit — this is an important guarantee of the cleanliness of the procedure: the issuing authority cannot grant a document if the forest management body objects. The consent enters into force simultaneously with the issuance of the license or permit.
The interested person pays only the fee and charge provided for by legislation — this means that the proceeding must not be accompanied by any additional unlawful charges. If such a demand appears, it is a violation and subject to appeal.
Hunting regulations are represented on this page as the regime of special forest use of the hunting economy: the system of types, the administrative proceeding with the participation of the forest management body, the obligation of a management plan, and the principle of compensating damage. The detailed hunting rules are established by a separate act, and verifying them is an integral part of seasonal planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently raised about this field.
Does a separate hunting act exist in this material?
This page rests on the hunting-economy regime of the Forest Code; the organization of a hunting economy is regulated by the relevant legislative act containing the detailed rules.
Where may a hunting economy be organized?
In protected forest — only on the part of a protected territory defined by the law on the system of protected areas; restrictions for other forest categories are established by law.
How does the administrative proceeding begin?
On the basis of an interested person's application, by the address of the issuing authority or on the initiative of the forest management body.
Does a fine release from compensating damage?
No — the imposition of liability does not release from the obligation to compensate damage caused to the forest.
The refusal mechanism is legally precise: the forest management body’s refusal to grant the forest-use right is the ground for refusing the licence or permit, while the consent given becomes effective simultaneously with the issue of the licence or permit. The interested person pays only the licence or permit fee and the charge provided for by legislation.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The specialists of Legal.ge will help with the legal grounds of a hunting economy: we verify the category of the territory and its restrictions, prepare the application for the administrative proceeding and assist in meeting the requirements of the management plan. Contact our team on any question of special forest use.