The 32nd FeHoVa International Exhibition for Weapons, Angling and Hunting opened last week at the Hungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre, once again confirming its role as a key Central European platform for dialogue on hunting, angling and wildlife management.

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) was visibly represented at the opening ceremony, reinforcing its long-standing cooperation with Hungary and its engagement with FeHoVa as an international meeting point for policymakers, practitioners and the hunting community.

Policy, Practice and International Context

Among the keynote speakers, Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary and President of the Hungarian Hunters’ Association, outlined recent legislative developments aimed at creating more realistic and workable conditions for hunters and game managers. He referred to shared responsibility for wildlife-vehicle collisions, new rules enabling faster responses to wildlife incidents in urban areas, and broader efforts to modernise hunting and firearms regulation. Semjén also highlighted the economic relevance of hunting, noting that revenues from the sector have increased eighteen-fold over the past sixteen years, reaching approximately HUF 3 billion annually, while the number of hunters has risen to around 71,000.

István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, provided an overview of recent game management results, referring to harvest figures, trophy evaluation statistics and the scale of Hungary’s hunting areas. His remarks underlined hunting’s role as an integral component of land use, forestry and wildlife management.

Looking to the future of the exhibition itself, Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communication and Relations, spoke about plans to further develop FeHoVa’s content and presentation formats. These discussions aim to ensure the exhibition continues to meet modern communication needs while remaining firmly rooted in Hungary’s hunting traditions.

Representing the international dimension, Dr Philipp Harmer, President of the CIC, addressed the opening in the context of broader European developments. He highlighted Hungary as a positive example where professional wildlife management, hunting culture and policymaking remain closely aligned. At a time when hunting is increasingly contested in parts of Europe, he noted that Hungary demonstrates the value of constructive dialogue between government and practitioners, supported by clear communication and public engagement.

CIC International Trophy Evaluation Ahead of FeHoVa

In parallel with FeHoVa, the CIC also held its traditional international trophy evaluation on 4 February in Budakeszi. While secondary to the main exhibition programme, the evaluation enabled Hungarian trophies to be entered into the CIC international database and considered for CIC Gold Medals, once again illustrating the organisation’s role as custodian of internationally recognised, science-based trophy evaluation standards.

Taken together, the opening of FeHoVa 2026 highlighted Hungary’s continued central role in European hunting culture and policy, while underscoring the CIC’s function as a bridge between national practice and international standards.

Media Contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ

Director of Communications and Public Affairs

CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation

Email: tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org

Mobile: +44 781 408 7423

Website: www.cic-wildlife.org