The largest revenues from hunting are received by the forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk and Minsk regions.

On September 27, Minsk / Tatyana Lobas - BELTA /. Hunting grounds of the Ministry of Forestry have earned Br5.1 billion in revenue from hunting activities since the beginning of the year, against a plan of Br3 billion 470 million for 9 months, exceeding the revenue target for January-September by 47%. This was reported to BELTA correspondent by Sergey Shestakov, Head of the Hunting Department of the Ministry of Forestry of Belarus. All regional forestry associations have exceeded their planned targets. In this regard, the forestries of the Vitebsk and Minsk State Production Forestry Associations received the most revenue from hunting management this year – Br1.227 billion and Br1.116 billion, respectively. The forestries of the Gomel region earned the least – Br465 million. Since the beginning of the year, hunting grounds have earned Br1.718 billion from hunting tours involving foreign citizens, according to data as of September 23, against a 9-month plan of Br1.048 billion. The nine-month target has been exceeded by 64%. The forestries of the Vitebsk region have been the most active in this area, earning Br491 million. The forestries of the Gomel region have the least revenue from hunting tours – Br114 million. Revenue from the operation of hunting lodges for the incomplete 9 months has increased by 29% and amounted to Br1 billion 537 million, against a 9-month plan of Br1 billion 190 million. Tourists from Russia, Germany, the Baltic States, Spain, Italy, and France have visited Belarus for hunting this year. Since the beginning of the year, more than 250 hunting tours have been conducted for foreigners. Currently, the hunting season for elk and deer is underway. This type of hunting for trophy wild animals is particularly attractive to foreign hunters. In 2011, it is planned to earn Br7.6 billion in revenue from hunting management, including about Br2.6 billion from hunting tours involving foreign citizens and Br1.9 billion from the operation of hunting lodges.

The task has been set to have one hunting complex in each hunting ground. It includes a hunting lodge, shooting stands, and well-developed infrastructure. Forestries allocate significant funds for infrastructure development, which proves to be worthwhile. Each region has one exemplary hunting ground. Other hunting grounds learn from its experience. Higher requirements for landscaping and infrastructure are imposed on exemplary hunting grounds. It is planned, in particular, to organize excursion tours on their basis: motorboat and boat trips, horse riding, ecological trails, and observation of wild animals in enclosures and in their natural habitat, and photo hunting. It is also planned to use hunting lodges for organizing family recreation throughout the year. Each hunting ground strives to offer tourists something exclusive. For example, the Molodechno hunting ground introduces tourists and hunters to wild animals kept in enclosures – deer, roe deer, wild boars, as well as pheasants and ostriches. -0-

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