By Hamza Tekin

SIDON, Lebanon

Turkish hunting rifles are becoming more popular than ever in the Lebanese market, according to both sellers and buyers who say the gear is as good as European brands.

Bird hunting is one of the most popular hobbies among the Lebanese people, especially in the wild near the Syrian border, in areas like Akkar, al-Qurrayat, Baalbek and Beqaa.

Fadi Daher, a hunting weapons merchant in Sidon city, told Anadolu Agency that he is a fan of Turkish hunting equipment.

“According to our 20 years of experience in this field, we trust this weapon and use it,” Daher said. “In the past five years, the quality of this weapon has been noticeably improved.”

Daher added that Turkish hunting rifles have become popular because they are as good as European ones, while being cheaper.

“The demand is massive, not normal, for buying Turkish hunting weapons in Lebanon,” he said.

Mohamed Maqmouq, a bird hunter, said his friends and him have been using Turkish hunting gear for many years.

“The quality is very high,” he said. “We definitely prefer it.”