The hunting seasons and closed seasons in Hesse are an important part of hunting regulations, which take into account both the interests of hunters and the necessity of species protection and the preservation of animal populations. It is important to understand the difference between these two terms:
- Hunting seasons refer to the time windows during which hunting certain animal species is permitted. They are established to ensure sustainable hunting without endangering the population of a species. Hunting seasons are based on the biological conditions of the animals, such as reproduction and raising of young.
- Closed seasons, on the other hand, are periods during which hunting certain animal species is expressly prohibited. They serve to protect the animals during particularly sensitive phases, such as during the breeding season or the raising of young.
The exact determination of hunting and closed seasons varies depending on the species and serves to balance the needs of hunters with the preservation of a healthy and stable animal population. In Hesse, these times are regulated by law to ensure sustainable management of the native wildlife. Below, the specific hunting seasons for various animal species in Hesse are detailed. The closed seasons are derived accordingly.
Game Species | Hunting Season in Hesse |
---|---|
Red Deer | |
Calves and Adult Animals | August 1 to January 31 |
Spikes and Yearlings | April 1 to May 31 and August 1 to January 31 |
Stags | August 1 to January 31 |
Fallow and Sika Deer | |
Calves | September 1 to January 31 |
Spikes and Yearlings | April 1 to May 31 and August 1 to January 31 |
Stags and Adult Animals | September 1 to January 31 |
Roe Deer | |
Does & Fawns | September 1 to January 31 |
Yearling Does | April 1 to January 31 |
Bucks | April 1 to January 31 |
Mouflon | |
Sheep, Rams, and Lambs | August 1 to January 31 |
Yearling Rams and Yearling Ewes | April 1 to May 31 and August 1 to January 31 |
Other Hoofed Game | |
Wild Boar | Year-round* |
Hares & Rodents | |
Field Hares** | October 1 to December 31 |
Wild Rabbits | Year-round* |
Nutria | September 1 to February 28 |
Predators | |
Stone Martens | October 16 to February 28 |
Badgers | August 1 to October 31 |
Foxes | August 15 to February 28 |
"Young Foxes" | Year-round |
Raccoons | August 1 to February 28 |
"Young Raccoons" | Year-round |
Raccoon Dogs | September 1 to February 28 |
"Young Raccoon Dogs" | Year-round |
Mink | September 1 to February 28 |
Game Birds | |
Pheasants | October 1 to January 15 |
Partridges** | September 16 to October 31 |
Wood Pigeons | November 1 to January 15 |
Juvenile Wood Pigeons | November 1 to February 20 |
Turtledoves | November 1 to January 15 |
Gray and Canada Geese | August 1 to October 31 |
Egyptian Geese | September 1 to January 15 |
Coots** | October 1 to January 15 |
Wild Ducks | September 1 to January 15 |
Gulls (Laughter, Storm, Silver, Mantle, and Herring)** | October 1 to January 15 |
Ravens | August 1 to December 31 |
Magpies | August 1 to December 31 |
* see parent animal protection.
** note current exceptions.
Here are the hunting seasons for other federal states:
Hunting Seasons Berlin
Hunting Seasons Hamburg
Hunting Seasons Saxony
Hunting Seasons Saxony-Anhalt
Hunting Seasons Brandenburg
Hunting Seasons Thuringia
Hunting Seasons Bremen
Hunting Seasons Rhineland-Palatinate
Hunting Seasons Lower Saxony
Hunting Seasons Baden-Württemberg
Hunting Seasons North Rhine-Westphalia
Hunting Seasons Bavaria
Hunting Seasons Schleswig-Holstein
Hunting Seasons Saarland