The hunting seasons and closed seasons in Bavaria 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 in 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 explicitly 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 Bavaria, these times are regulated by law to ensure sustainable management of the native wildlife. Below, the specific hunting seasons for various animal species in Bavaria are detailed. The closed seasons are derived accordingly.
Game Species | Hunting Season in Bavaria |
---|---|
Red Deer | |
Calves | August 1 to January 31 |
Yearlings and Spikers | June 1 to January 31 |
Stags and Adult Animals | August 1 to January 31 |
Fallow Deer | |
Calves | September 1 to January 31 |
Yearlings and Spikers | July 1 to January 31 |
Stags and Adult Animals | September 1 to January 31 |
Sika Deer | |
Calves and Adult Animals | September 1 to January 31 |
Yearlings and Spikers | July 1 to January 31 |
Stags | September 1 to January 31 |
Roe Deer | |
Kids and Does | September 1 to January 15 |
Yearling Bucks | May 1 to January 15 |
Bucks | May 1 to October 15 |
Other Ungulates | |
Mouflon | August 1 to January 31 |
Chamois | August 1 to December 15 |
Wild Boar | Year-round |
Hares & Rodents | |
Field Hares | October 16 to December 31 |
Wild Rabbits** | Year-round |
Nutria | Year-round |
Beavers* | September 1 to March 15 |
Predators | |
Stone Martens | October 16 to February 28 |
Tree Martens | October 16 to February 28 |
Weasels | August 1 to February 28 |
Ermines | August 1 to February 28 |
Badgers | August 1 to October 31 |
Mouse Weasels | August 1 to February 28 |
Foxes | Year-round |
Raccoons** | Year-round |
Raccoon Dogs** | Year-round |
Game Birds | |
Partridges | September 1 to October 31 |
Pheasants | October 1 to December 31 |
Wild Turkeys | March 15 to May 15 and October 1 to January 15 |
Wild Turkey Hens | October 1 to January 15 |
Collared Doves | November 1 to February 20 |
Turkish Doves | November 1 to February 20 |
Mute Swans | November 1 to February 20 |
Canada, Gray, and Nile Geese | August 1 to January 15 |
Brent, Ringed, and Seed Geese | November 1 to January 15 |
Wild Ducks | September 1 to January 15 |
Whistling, Teal, Pintail, Mountain, Heron, Pochard, Velvet, and Mourning Ducks | October 1 to January 15 |
Woodcock | October 16 - January 15 |
Coots | September 11 to February 20 |
Gulls (Laughing, Storm, Silver, Mantle, and Herring) | October 1 to February 10 |
Gray Heron* | September 16 to October 31 |
Jay* | July 16 to March 14 |
Raven* | July 16 to March 14 |
Magpie* | July 16 to March 14 |
Cormorants* | August 16 to March 14 |
* current exceptions apply.
** see parent animal protection.
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 Schleswig-Holstein
Hunting Seasons Hesse
Hunting Seasons Saarland