The incident took place in early 2024 in a forested area near Bükkzsérc. The 58-year-old man was hunting as a guest on a designated hunting ground when he fired a rifle shot from inside his vehicle while using a thermal camera. According to the Mezőkövesd District Court, he failed 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 partially lying down at the time. The victim suffered a deep, serious wound and a fractured thigh bone, later developing a permanent mobility-related disability as a result of the injury. He was taken to the intensive care unit at the hospital in Eger following the shooting.

The court ruled on the case without holding a trial, issuing a penal order that found the hunter guilty of negligent endangerment committed in the course of a professional activity and causing lasting harm. The judge stated that the conditions required for a safe shot were clearly not met and that the hunter failed to take sufficient steps 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 said 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.
 

The case has also renewed debate among experts about hunting safety regulations in Hungary, particularly the use of thermal imaging equipment, which has been criticised when not used under strict safety protocols.

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