Hunter banned and fined after shooting hiker in Hungary

Court has fined a hunter in Hungary and banned him from hunting for three years after he accidentally shot a hiker while aiming with a thermal imaging camera in the Bükk Mountains.

A hunter in Hungary shot a hiker and caused permament damage to his victim

According to HVG, the incident took place in early 2024 in a forested area near Bükkzsérc, where the 58-year-old man was hunting as a guest on a designated hunting ground. According to a statement from the Mezőkövesd District Court, the hunter fired a rifle shot from inside his vehicle while using a thermal camera, failing to properly check whether the target area was safe.

Instead of hitting the intended animal, the bullet struck a hiker who had stopped to rest and was lying partially down at the time. The victim suffered a deep, severe wound and a bone fracture to the thigh, and later developed a permanent mobility-related disability as a result of the injury. Following the shooting, the injured hiker was taken to the intensive care unit of the hospital in Eger.

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He was fined and banned from hunting for years

The court ruled on the case without holding a trial, issuing a penal order that found the hunter guilty of endangering others through negligent conduct while carrying out a professional activity, causing lasting harm. The judge concluded that the conditions required for a safe shot were clearly not met, and that the hunter did not make sufficient efforts to ensure that no other people were at risk.

As a result, the court imposed a fine of HUF 420,000 (approximately EUR 1,050) and banned the man from all hunting activities for three years. At the time of the incident, the head of the local hunting association stated that the hunter had intended to shoot a young deer from his car, but mistakenly hit the hiker, who had stopped in the area with companions. Prosecutors had previously charged the man with negligent endangerment carried out in the course of his occupation.

The case also made experts think about changing hunting safety regulations in Hungary, particularly the use of thermal imaging equipment, which has been criticised by experts when used without strict adherence to safety protocols.