In our country from July 1, 2026

In our country, the bear hunting season begins on July 1, 2026.

The period will last until the end of the year – December 31.

In accordance with the Decree of the President of November 18, 2024, No. 420, the bear and the lynx have been added to the list of regulated game animals. This means that they can be hunted under a special regime. Controlled population regulation is provided for.

"Hunting methods (from ambush or stalking) are determined by the hunt leader."

The hunting weapon can be either rifled or smoothbore, at least 16 gauge with bulleted cartridges.

It is also permitted to hunt bears with hunting dogs, subject to the decision of the hunting grounds user.

The Belarusian Association of Hunters and Fishermen (BAHF) reported on the number of bears that are allowed to be harvested in 2026 in the society's hunting farms.

The possibility of harvesting bears in 2026 exists in the Vitebsk, Glubokskoye, Gorodokskoye, Dokshitskoye, Lioznenskoye, Orshanskoye, Ushachskoye, and Borisov hunting grounds. Here, 445 individuals have been accounted for. 35 bears are planned for harvesting.

Why bear hunting is permitted in Belarus

Some may wonder why rare wild animal species have been included in the hunting list. The decision to permit bear hunting in our country was primarily driven by the concerns of Belarusians. Citizens were worried that in certain regions, bears had begun entering populated areas and approaching villages. People encountered bears in the forest while gathering mushrooms and berries.

This is all related to the increase in the bear population. Considering this nuance, a decision was made to grant it a binary status. Bear hunting is not permitted everywhere. It all depends on the population size. The presence of at least one female with cubs is mandatory. And no more than 10% of the established population can be harvested.