Hunting matters
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzOne of the aims of hunting is to
- to maintain a species-rich and healthy game population and to develop it in a proportion adapted to its natural habitat and the cultural conditions of the land,
- to secure and improve the natural living conditions of game,
- to protect endangered game species, to secure and increase their population,
- to avoid impairments of proper agricultural, forestry and fishing use by game,
- to preserve the diversity of wild animal species as an essential component of biodiversity and the ecosystem,
- to ensure a near-natural, sustainable form of utilization.
The right to hunt is the exclusive right to keep, hunt and appropriate wild animals subject to hunting rights in a specific area. The right to hunt is linked to the duty to hunt.
Gamekeeping includes all measures that aim to develop and maintain a species-rich and healthy wildlife population that is adapted to the conditions of the landscape and the culture of the land, as well as the care and protection of its natural resources. Impairment of proper agricultural, forestry and fishing use, in particular damage caused by game, should be avoided.
Hunting is the search for, stalking, killing and catching of game. The right to appropriate game also includes the exclusive right to appropriate sick or dead game, fallen game and dropping sticks as well as the eggs of game birds.
The shooting of game must be regulated in such a way that the justified claims of agriculture, forestry and fisheries for protection against game damage as well as the interests of nature conservation, landscape management and the control of animal diseases are safeguarded. The shooting regulations are intended to help maintain a healthy population of all native game species in appropriate numbers and, in particular, to ensure the protection of game species whose populations are under threat.
The requirements of silviculture and the prevention of damage caused by game must take precedence over the numerical management of a game species.
When practising hunting, the principles of fair game management, which serve animal welfare in particular, must be observed.
ATTENTION: On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the Hunting, Weapons and Fishing Authority will be closed all day. There will also be no telephone availability on this day. We ask for your understanding.
The Lower Hunting Authority in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district is the point of contact for questions relating to hunting law. The district administration is assisted by the district hunting master and his representative as expert advisors. These are
District Hunting Master
Franck Neygenfind
Hauptstraße 1
54533 Niederscheidweiler
and, if he is unable to attend, his deputy
Guido Haag
Morbach
The new State Hunting Act for Rhineland-Palatinate (LJG) came into force on 22.07.2010, followed by the State Hunting Ordinance (LJVO) and the administrative regulation for implementing the State Hunting Act in 2011. Legal ordinances issued to implement the LJG dated February 5, 1979 (GVBl. p. 23) remain in force and are to be applied in accordance with the provisions of the new LJG.
All legal regulations as well as any officially prescribed forms are available for download on the website of the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Food, Viticulture and Forestry at www.wald-rlp.de under the keyword "Nutzen" - "Wild und Jagd" - "Jagdliche Regelungen" and the Landesjagdverband Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. at www.ljv-rlp.de.
Here you will also find lots of other important information, useful sample letters and templates, etc.
Hunting examination
Anyone wishing to hunt must have a valid German hunting license in their name. When a hunting license is issued for the first time, proof of having passed a hunting examination in Germany must be presented.
One of the requirements for admission to the hunting examination is participation in an appropriate training course. In the local district, such a recognized training course is offered by the Bernkastel-Wittlich district group of the Rhineland-Palatinate Hunting Association.
Information on the preparatory course can be obtained from the course instructor:
Ulrich Konrad
Neustraße 38
54518 Minderlittgen
Tel. 06571/20812
and on the website of the Bernkastel-Wittlich district group of the Rhineland-Palatinate Hunting Association at https://bernkastel-wittlich.ljv-rlp.de/ .
The preparation course usually begins in October. The hunting examination then takes place in April / May after a training period of approx. 6 months. The hunting examination consists of a shooting test, a written examination and a practical oral examination. In the written and oral-practical examination, knowledge in the following subject areas is tested:
- Animal species, game biology and game management
- Hunting operations (including accident prevention and the necessary customs), game damage prevention, agriculture and silviculture, management of hunting dogs
- Weapons law, weapons technology, handling weapons and ammunition (in particular the use of hunting weapons including handguns)
- Treatment of the hunted game with special consideration of the necessary hygienic measures,
- Assessment of the health safety of the venison, in particular with regard to its use as food
- hunting law
- Animal welfare, nature conservation and landscape conservation law
The application for admission to the examination must be submitted to the Bernkastel-Wittlich district administration at least 3 weeks before the examination date. Applications received after this time cannot be considered. Course participants will receive the application forms directly from the Lower Hunting Authority in a timely manner.
The examination fee is 258 euros and must also be paid to the Bernkastel-Wittlich district administration no later than 3 weeks before the examination date. The costs of the preparatory course can be obtained from the course instructor.