The draft of the new state hunting law presented by the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of the Environment, Eder (Green Party), which has been praised as pioneering for the Federal Republic, is met with great rejection from associations and the hunting community.

Not only the German Hunting Association, the state hunting associations, the Association of Professional Hunters, the Hunting Supervisors Association, and many other associations, but also international hunting associations are taking to the barricades.

Ultimately, the hunting as we know it is to be completely undermined and counteracted.

The hunting district system and the self-responsible exercise of hunting as well as the care of wildlife are to give way to a state-controlled central planned economy. Those exercising hunting will only be used as assistants to a state forestry.

The protection of mother animals is to be weakened, and leading parent animals are to be killed in violation of animal welfare as early as November 1. Often, the offspring are not yet fully developed at this time and urgently need the guidance of the parent animal.

Fallow and mouflon game may only be managed in tolerance areas; outside of these areas, they face total culling, regardless of the hunting season. Ignoring this will even have consequences for those exercising hunting.

The hunting district system is completely absurd. Hunting tenants are to be obliged to issue a free hunting permit to all property owners. According to Ms. Eder, this would strengthen the rights of property owners. The opposite is the case; if everyone is allowed to hunt, then no one is responsible! How can there be a uniform care and reasonable planning when suddenly multiple hunters appear in a hunting district? Who then represents the interests of the wildlife?

Proper wildlife management is not possible this way. Nevertheless, the tenants are to remain liable. Hunting will be conducted at any time in their district by third parties at their expense. In the worst case, (the hunting cooperatives are practically forced to do so) the lease agreement can be terminated without notice in case of significant threat to the forestry goal. The damage, if only a reduced lease price is achieved in the new leasing, would be borne by the old tenants. A scenario that is by no means unlikely given these reprisals!

Animal ethics, animal welfare, and the rights of hunters are trampled on with this draft.

The hunting principle of care and the cooperation to achieve a species-rich, healthy, and culturally adapted wildlife population is not only prevented but is consciously replaced by the culture of forest versus wildlife and the creation of conflict between hunters and landowners. Do not forget, we hunters are the advocates of wildlife!

A complete version of the law can be found at: https://mkuem.rlp.de/service/fragen-und-antworten-faq/landesjagdgesetz

Therefore, support the efforts and campaigns of the DJV https://www.jagdverband.de/ and the LJV Rhineland-Palatinate https://ljv-rlp.de/ and fight for our wildlife and our hunting!