Hunting law in Germany divides game into big game and small game, among other things. These terms are of historical origin. Behind the high game are the respective game species whose hunting was particularly valued and which was therefore reserved for the high nobility (high hunting). Hunting of small game, on the other hand, was allowed to be practiced also by representatives of other estates (lower nobility, high bourgeois, etc.).
Nowadays, big game includes all cloven-hoofed game with the exception of roe deer. Furthermore, the capercaillie, the golden eagle and the white-tailed eagle belong to the big game. All other game belongs to the small game.