Hunting matters

The aim of hunting is, among other things:

• to maintain a species-rich and healthy wildlife 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 habitats of game,
• to protect endangered game species, to secure and increase their population,
• to avoid interference with proper agricultural, forestry and fishing use by game,
• to preserve the diversity of wild animal species as an essential component of biological diversity and the ecosystem,
• to ensure a near-natural, sustainable form of use.

The right to hunt is the exclusive right to hunt wild animals subject to hunting rights in a specific area, to hunt them and to appropriate them. The right to hunt is linked to the duty to hunt.
 

Game management includes all measures aimed at developing and maintaining a species-rich and healthy game population that is adapted to the conditions of the landscape and land culture, as well as maintaining and safeguarding its natural resources. Impairments to 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 poles as well as the eggs of game birds.
 

The shooting of game must be regulated in such a way that the legitimate demands 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 game damage must take precedence over the numerical management of a game species.
 

When hunting, the principles of fair chase, in particular those serving animal welfare, must be observed.