Hunting matters

One 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.