The Hunters' Association of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is advocating for the legal approval of hunting with bow and arrow. This demand, which may initially seem unusual, is logically justified and is thoroughly explained by the association.

In a proposal to the responsible Ministry of the Environment, the organization calls for a legal anchoring of bow hunting. "Given the changing conditions in hunting, we must have the opportunity to hunt in areas where the use of conventional firearms poses too great a risk," explains the Hunters' Association in the context of discussions on revising the state hunting law. This is particularly true for areas where humans and wildlife frequently come into close contact, such as in tourist-developed regions.

The association emphasizes that not only could the safety of the population be improved by the use of bow and arrow. In newly emerging solar parks, which are considered potential hunting areas, firearms are also deemed inappropriate. Due to the limited range and precise application, the risk in bow hunting is assessed as significantly lower in certain scenarios.

Concerns about unnecessary animal cruelty are regarded by the association as minor. International studies show that the effects of hunting arrows on animal bodies are comparable to those of firearms. If Mecklenburg-Vorpommern gives the green light for this form of hunting, it would join a growing number of European countries where bow hunting is already permitted.

Primarily, the Hunters' Association sees invasive species such as raccoons, nutria, raccoon dogs, or Egyptian geese as suitable targets for this hunting method. Additionally, the association suggests addressing increasingly problematic wild boars and foxes with bow and arrow. This approach could become an important component of damage minimization and species protection in certain regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the future.