Cantonal Popular Initiative – Canton of Vaud

«For a professional management of wildlife» / «Für professionellen Wildtierschutz»

Fully drafted constitutional initiative / Verfassungsinitiative in der Form des ausgearbeiteten Entwurfs

Based on Art. 79 of the Constitution of the Canton of Vaud of 14 April 2003 and on the Law on the Exercise of Political Rights

Submitted by the initiative committee [date of submission]

Note: The Canton of Vaud is French-speaking. The initiative text must be submitted in French. The present German version serves as an overview and for strategic planning purposes.

Initiative text

The undersigned persons entitled to vote in the Canton of Vaud submit the following constitutional initiative:

The Constitution of the Canton of Vaud of 14 April 2003 is supplemented by the following articles:

Art. [new] Professional wildlife protection

1 The practice of hunting by private individuals (licensed hunting, hobby hunting) is prohibited throughout the entire territory of the Canton of Vaud.

2 The protection, care and, where necessary, the regulation of wild animals shall be the exclusive responsibility of professionally trained wildlife managers in the service of the canton.

3 The culling of wild animals is only permissible as a last resort, when all other appropriate measures for the prevention of damage or the averting of danger have been exhausted or proven insufficient. It requires prior authorisation from the Wildlife Commission.

4 The canton shall establish an independent Wildlife Commission composed of representatives of animal and nature conservation organisations, the scientific community, and the relevant authorities. The Commission shall oversee wildlife management and decide on regulatory measures.

5 The canton shall promote the natural regulation of wildlife populations, the interconnection of habitats and the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

6 The details shall be governed by law.

Art. [new] Protection of endangered and protected wild animal species

1 The canton shall refrain from submitting applications for the preventive population regulation of protected wild animal species under the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds, in particular wolf, lynx, bear, beaver, otter, golden jackal, golden eagle, goosander and further species protected under federal law.

2 It promotes the coexistence of humans and wildlife, passive damage prevention, the ecological enhancement of habitats, and scientific monitoring of wildlife presence.

3 Measures against individual wild animals that pose an immediate and significant threat to humans remain reserved. They are to be kept to a minimum and carried out by the competent cantonal authority.

4 Within the framework of intercantonal cooperation and in relation to the federal government, the canton actively advocates for the protection and conservation of endangered wildlife species.

Transitional Provision

1 The State Council shall issue the necessary implementing regulations within two years of the adoption of this constitutional amendment.

2 Existing hunting licences shall lapse upon the entry into force of the implementing regulations. Licence fees already paid for the current hunting season shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis.

3 The State Council shall ensure continuity of wildlife management during the transitional period.

Explanatory Notes

1. Background

In the canton of Vaud, the third-largest canton in Switzerland with approximately 815’000 inhabitants across 3’212 km², today's recreational hunting is a system that serves neither species protection nor contemporary wildlife management. It is the practice of a bloody leisure pursuit at the expense of sentient beings, legitimised by outdated narratives that do not withstand scientific scrutiny. The claim that without recreational hunting ecological balance would collapse has been empirically refuted by the Geneva model for over 50 years (cf. the comprehensive dossier on the Geneva hunting ban on wildbeimwild.com).

Recreational hunting in Vaud is organized as patent hunting. Private individuals obtain a cantonal licence and hunt without fixed territorial responsibility (cf. the psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of Vaud as well as the critical analysis of hunting education on wildbeimwild.com).

In parallel, an increasing number of protected wildlife species are coming under pressure at the federal level. The revision of the Hunting Act in December 2022 introduced the preventive regulation of the wolf. Since February 2025, beavers may be culled upon cantonal request. The canton of Vaud is directly affected by the return of the wolf: several wolf packs have been documented in the Vaudois Jura and the Vaudois Alps. The lynx has been established in the Jura and the Pre-Alps for decades. The beaver has colonised numerous waterways. The golden eagle breeds in the Vaudois Alps. The northern shore of Lake Geneva is one of the most important waterfowl areas in Switzerland (cf. the analysis of hunting policy on wildbeimwild.com and the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

The canton of Vaud has the opportunity to send a clear signal here: not only for professional wildlife management instead of hobby hunting, but also for the consistent protection of threatened wildlife species at the cantonal level. As a neighbouring canton of Geneva, Vaud can draw directly on the successful experience of its neighbour.

2. The model: Canton of Geneva

On 19 May 1974, approximately two thirds of voters in the canton of Geneva voted to abolish militia-style hobby hunting. Before the ban, large game in the canton had been virtually wiped out: deer and wild boar had disappeared for decades, and only a few dozen roe deer remained. Around 300 hobby hunters were releasing large numbers of pheasants, partridges and hares for hobby hunting.

The experiences since the ban on hobby hunting are unequivocal:

– Biodiversity has increased markedly. The number of overwintering waterfowl has multiplied from a few hundred to around 30’000. Geneva today is home to the largest brown hare population and one of the last grey partridge populations in Switzerland.

– The roe deer population has stabilised at a healthy level, with an annual selective cull by professional wildlife wardens of only 20 to 36 animals.

– In 2005, a renewed popular vote saw 90 percent of Geneva's electorate vote in favor of retaining the ban on hobby hunting. In 2009, a motion to reintroduce hobby hunting was rejected in the cantonal parliament by 70 votes to 7.

– The total costs of professional wildlife management in Geneva amount to approximately 1.2 million francs annually, divided into approximately 600’000 francs for personnel (approx. three full-time positions, distributed among around a dozen environmental officers), 250’000 francs for prevention and 350’000 francs for damage compensation. This corresponds to approximately 2.40 francs per inhabitant per year.

Geneva's fauna inspector Gottlieb Dandliker, responsible for wildlife management since 2001, describes the ban on hobby hunting as the most financially favorable alternative for the canton. A detailed account can be found in the Dossier «Geneva and the hunting ban» on wildbeimwild.com. For the canton of Vaud, the Geneva experience is not merely a theoretical model, but a lived neighbourly reality: Vaud shares with Geneva the shores of Lake Geneva, the same language and the same political culture.

The efficiency of the Geneva model is evident in direct comparison: a professional game warden in Geneva requires an average of 8 hours and a maximum of 2 cartridges for a sanitary cull of a wild boar. A hobby hunter in the canton of Zurich requires 60 to 80 hours and up to 15 cartridges for the same task. The hare population density in Geneva is 17.7 animals per 100 hectares (the highest in Switzerland), while in the canton of Zurich it is only 1.0 per 100 hectares (cf. Fact-check Cantonal Government Zurich).

3. The Concept: Professional Wildlife Wardening Instead of Hobby Hunting

The initiative does not replace hobby hunting with a vacuum, but with professional wildlife management based on the game warden model. This model is based on the following principles:

Professional expertise instead of recreational pastime. Professional wildlife managers act on a scientific basis (cf. the critical analysis of hunting training on wildbeimwild.com).

Ultima ratio principle. A cull is only permissible once all non-lethal measures have been exhausted.

Democratic oversight through a wildlife commission. The independent commission prevents political pressure from diluting wildlife management.

Natural self-regulation as a guiding principle. Experience from Geneva, from national parks and from numerous scientific studies confirms: wildlife populations regulate themselves independently in most cases.

4. Why Vaud?

The canton of Vaud is particularly well suited to the introduction of professional wildlife protection for several reasons:

Neighbouring canton of Geneva. Vaud is the immediate neighbor of the canton of Geneva. The Geneva experience is not abstract, but tangible. The population of Vaud knows Geneva. The waterfowl that overwinter in Geneva are the same ones seen on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. Wildlife corridors cross cantonal boundaries. Professional wildlife management in Vaud would extend the Geneva experience to the entire Lake Geneva basin.

The largest French-speaking canton in Switzerland. With 815’000 inhabitants, Vaud is the largest canton in French-speaking Switzerland. A success here would send a signal to all of Western Switzerland (FR, NE, JU, VS). The key messages work in French: «Genève le fait depuis 50 ans. Ce qui fonctionne là-bas fonctionne aussi ici.»

Wolf policy in the Jura and the Alps. Several wolf packs have been documented in the Vaud Jura and the Vaud Alps (Pays-d’Enhaut, Vaudois Gruyère). The controversial wolf culls have politicized the debate. The initiative offers a constitutional response (cf. the Wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

Lynx in the Vaud Jura. The lynx has been native to the Vaud Jura for decades and naturally regulates the roe deer population. Professional wildlife management protects the lynx and harnesses its ecological function.

Northern shore of Lake Geneva: waterfowl area of national importance. The northern shore of Lake Geneva is one of the most important waterfowl areas in Switzerland. The Geneva experience shows what happens when hobby hunting of waterfowl ceases: the number of overwintering waterfowl multiplied from one hundred to 30’000. Vaud could achieve a similar outcome for the northern shore.

12’000 signatures. With 815’000 inhabitants, 12’000 signatures represent 1.5 percent of the population. Signatures can be collected efficiently in Lausanne, Yverdon-les-Bains, Montreux, Nyon, Vevey and Morges (cf. wildbeimwild.com on wildlife in urban areas).

Patent hunting = a straightforward change of system. No lease agreements, no municipal compensation.

University of Lausanne (UNIL) and EPFL. Lausanne is a hub of scientific research. The evidence-based argument for professional wildlife management finds an academically oriented audience here.

5. On the initiative text

Paragraph 1 – Ban on hobby hunting

The prohibition of patent hunting by private individuals corresponds to the Geneva model. Cantonal competence is undisputed: Art. 3 para. 1 JSG. The three hunting systems are of equal standing. Geneva has been in conformity with federal law since 1974.

Paragraph 2 – Professional Wildlife Management

Instead of hobby hunters, professionally trained wildlife managers in cantonal service take on all responsibilities. This system has proven itself in Geneva for over 50 years.

Paragraph 3 – Culling as a Last Resort

Culling is the exception, not the rule. Passive measures take priority.

Paragraph 4 – Wildlife Commission

The independent wildlife commission is modeled on the Geneva system. It prevents the State Council from independently granting exceptions (cf. wildbeimwild.com/jagd-fakten).

Paragraph 5 – Natural Regulation and Coexistence

The promotion of coexistence in Vaud encompasses in particular the connection of the northern shore of Lake Geneva with the Jura and the Alps, the protection of wildlife corridors, and public education (cf. wildbeimwild.com on wildlife in residential areas).

Transitional Provisions

The two-year period gives the State Council sufficient time. The existing cantonal hunting inspectorate (Inspection de la faune) can serve as an institutional basis.

6. On the Second Article: Protection of Threatened and Protected Wildlife Species

The second article is particularly relevant for Vaud. Several wolf packs have been documented in the Jura and the Alps. The lynx has been native to the Jura for decades. The beaver has colonised numerous waterways. The northern shore of Lake Geneva is a waterfowl area of national importance. The “in particular” formulation also protects future returnees, especially the otter (cf. the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com).

7. Financial Implications: Concrete Budget for Vaud

The Geneva Reference Budget

In Geneva, the direct neighbouring canton with 282 km² and around 500’000 inhabitants, the total costs of professional wildlife management amount to approximately 1.2 million francs annually.

Conservative Projection for Vaud

For Vaud, with an area of 3’212 km² and around 820’000 inhabitants, the following deliberately conservative cost estimate applies. This estimate is generous and takes into account the Vaud Alps, the development of livestock protection measures, and the transitional management of red deer:

Personnel costs: 1’440’000 to 2’380’000 francs annually. Between 12 and 17 full-time positions are required. Vaud is eleven times larger than Geneva and topographically diverse: Lake Geneva shores and the Plateau to the west, Jura to the north, Vaud Alps to the east (Diablerets, Pays-d’Enhaut, Château-d’Oex). The wolf is documented in the canton. In addition, there is the transitional red deer management in the Alps.

Operating costs: 300’000 to 500’000 francs annually. Alpine equipment, vehicles, monitoring infrastructure, livestock protection materials and public relations work.

Damage compensation: 150’000 to 350’000 francs annually.

Livestock protection start-up investment: 500’000 to 900’000 francs. One-time investment in livestock protection infrastructure for the Vaud Alps (Diablerets, Pays-d’Enhaut) over three to five years: livestock guardian dog programmes, mobile fencing, night enclosures, training of herders. Not necessary in the Vaud Plateau and on Lake Geneva.

Total costs: 1’890’000 to 3’230’000 francs annually (gross). That corresponds to approximately 2.30 to 3.95 francs per inhabitant per year.

Transitional Red Deer Management

The red deer is present in the Vaud Alps. Compensatory reproduction — the artificially elevated reproduction rate caused by hunting pressure — prevents sustainable reduction. Following the transition to a new system, targeted transitional management will be required during the first three to five years, which is factored into the higher staffing figures (cf. studies on wildbeimwild.com).

Savings and Counterfinancing

These costs are offset by considerable savings: no hunting examinations, no licence administration, no culling plans, no hunting supervision. A single senselessly killed wolf costs the public approximately 35’000 francs. As a neighbouring canton of Geneva, Vaud has the shortest path to a compelling argument: what has worked in Geneva for 50 years will work in Vaud as well.

Foregone Revenue

The abolition of hobby hunting would eliminate licence fees estimated at 1.5 to 2 million francs annually. However, this must be weighed against the never-audited external costs of militia hunting — wildlife accidents, hunting-related browsing damage in protective forests, administrative burdens, police and court operations — which amount to many times these revenues. In the canton of Geneva, these revenues have been absent since 1974 — without financial difficulties: before the hunting ban, more than 400 hobby hunters were active; today, three full-time positions do the same work more effectively. Sanitary and therapeutic culls carried out by professional wildlife wardens are not the same as regulatory hunting based on hunters' lore or the misguided “nature experience” of hobby hunters. A full-cost accounting reveals that militia hunting costs the taxpayer significantly more than it generates (cf. «What hobby hunting really costs Switzerland» on wildbeimwild.com).

Hobby hunters in politics vote against nature conservation. The hobby hunting lobby systematically opposes biodiversity and species protection concerns. In 2024, it campaigned against the Biodiversity Initiative (63 percent No). In 2020, the hunting law it helped shape was rejected at the ballot box (51.9 percent No). In 2016, the Ticino hunters’ association torpedoed the Parc Adula national park. During the 2015 to 2019 legislative period, hobby hunters in parliament voted predominantly against environmental concerns. Anyone who claims hobby hunters are conservationists is ignoring their voting record (cf. Ticino Hunters’ Association: 30 Years of Nonsense and Cost Dossier).

The net additional costs are likely to amount to between 1’000’000 and 2’200’000 francs per year, which corresponds to approximately 1.20 to 2.70 francs per resident. Even by generous calculations: that is less than one coffee per person per year. For a canton with a total budget of approximately 12.7 billion francs (2024 state accounts, FFA), this amounts to less than 0.02 percent (cf. Hunting Myths Fact-Check on wildbeimwild.com).

8. Compatibility with Higher-Ranking Law

First Article: Abolition of Hobby Hunting

Compliant with federal law. Art. 3 para. 1 JSG. Three equivalent hunting systems. Geneva unchallenged since 1974.

Second Article: Protection of Protected Species

Art. 7a JSG permits preventive regulation but does not mandate it. Refraining from such regulation violates neither federal law nor the Bern Convention.

Unity of Subject Matter

Respected, as all provisions relate to cantonal wildlife management and the protection of wild animals.

9. Anticipating Foreseeable Objections

«Vaud is eleven times larger than Geneva – the system does not work here»

The facts: Larger area, but also larger population (815’000 vs. 500’000). The per capita costs are below the Geneva level: 1.20 to 2.70 francs vs. 2.40 francs. The Vaud Plateau (Broye, Gros-de-Vaud) is the same landscape as Geneva. The Jura and the Alps are more sparsely populated with fewer conflict zones (cf. the Psychology of hobby hunting in the canton of Vaud).

Key communication message: «Le Plateau vaudois est le même paysage que Genève. Et les coûts par habitant sont inférieurs à ceux de Genève.» / «The Vaud Plateau is the same landscape as Geneva. And the per capita costs are lower than in Geneva.»

«The wolf needs hobby hunting»

The facts: The wolf regulates. Hobby hunting disrupts. Geneva has proven this for 50 years.

Key communication message: «Le loup régule. La chasse de loisir perturbe. Genève le prouve depuis 50 ans.»

«The costs are too high»

The facts: 1.20 to 2.70 francs per resident per year. Below the Geneva level. Geneva has been doing it for 50 years, and 90 percent of the population want to keep the system.

Key communication message: «Moins de 2.20 francs par habitant et par an. Moins qu’à Genève. Et 90% des Genevois veulent garder le système.»

10. Summary

This initiative gives the population of Vaud the opportunity to express their support for modern, evidence-based wildlife management and comprehensive protection of endangered wild animal species. The first article follows the Geneva model, which has proven its worth for over 50 years. The second article protects in particular the wolf packs in the Jura and the Alps, the lynx in the Jura, and the waterfowl on Lake Geneva. As a neighbouring canton of Geneva and the largest French-speaking canton in Switzerland, a success in Vaud would send a signal to the entire Romandy region.

Initiative committee «Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage» / «For Professional Wildlife Protection»

[Name 1], [Name 2], [Name 3] …

(Committee members in accordance with cantonal law, with residence in the canton of Vaud)

Contact address: [Address of the committee]

Appendix: Further Documentation

The Geneva model in detail: wildbeimwild.com/dossiers/genf-und-das-jagdverbot – Comprehensive presentation of Geneva’s wildlife management since 1974.

Scientific studies: wildbeimwild.com/studien

Hunting in Switzerland: wildbeimwild.com/jagd-in-der-schweiz

Psychology of hobby hunting in the canton of Vaud: wildbeimwild.com – Psychology of hobby hunting in the canton of VD

Psychology of hobby hunting: wildbeimwild.com/category/psychologie-jagd

National parks and protected areas: wildbeimwild.com/category/nationalpark

Wildlife in residential areas: wildbeimwild.com/category/wildtiere-im-siedlungsgebiet

Hunting myths: wildbeimwild.com/dossiers/jagdmythen

Cantonal popular initiative Basel-Stadt: Model text of the initiative in the canton of Basel-Stadt

Note on the procedure

The initiative committee submits the initiative text in French to the State Chancellery of the canton of Vaud for preliminary review before the signature collection begins. 12’000 valid signatures are required for the initiative to come about. The collection period is 4 months from publication in the Official Gazette. The submission modalities are governed by the law on the exercise of political rights.

Strategic briefing for activists

Popular initiative «Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage» – Canton of Vaud Internal working document – Status March 2026

Summary

Vaud is the strategically most important Romandy canton in the series. As a neighbour of Geneva, the largest French-speaking canton and home to the University of Lausanne, Vaud combines all the prerequisites. The per capita costs are below the Geneva level. 12’000 signatures in 4 months is demanding, but feasible with 815’000 inhabitants (1.5 percent). Wolf, lynx, waterfowl and beaver are present in the canton.

1. Why Vaud in particular?

Neighbouring canton of Geneva. Lived neighbourliness. Same language, same political culture.

Largest Romandy canton. Signal effect for the entire French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Wolf policy. Wolf packs in the Jura and in the Alps. Species protection clause mobilises support.

Northern shore of Lake Geneva. Waterfowl area of national importance.

12’000 signatures. 1.5 percent. Demanding, but feasible.

Patent hunting = simpler change of system. No lease agreements.

2. The lessons from Zurich: What we are doing differently

Positive title. «Pour une gestion professionnelle de la faune sauvage».

Geneva neighbourliness. «Genève le fait depuis 50 ans» is no abstract reference here, but lived neighbourliness.

Concrete budget calculation. Below 2.20 francs per capita. Below the Geneva level.

3. Analysis of opponents and prepared responses

Counter-argument 1: «Vaud is too large»

Communicative shorthand: «Le Plateau vaudois est Genève. Les coûts par habitant sont inférieurs.»

Counter-argument 2: «The wolf needs hobby hunting»

Communicative shorthand: «Le loup régule. La chasse de loisir perturbe.»

Counter-argument 3: «The costs are too high»

Communicative shorthand: «Moins de 2.20 francs par habitant. Moins qu’à Genève.»

4. Communication strategy: The three core messages

«Genève le fait depuis 50 ans. Ce qui fonctionne là-bas fonctionne aussi ici.»

«Professionnel au lieu de loisir.» / «Professional instead of hobby.»

«Moins de 2.20 francs par personne et par an.»

5. Timeline and next steps

Phase	Content	Timeframe
Committee formation & pre-screening of text	Engage a lawyer; prepare French version; committee members resident in VD	Months 1–4
Submission for preliminary review	State Chancellery of Vaud (French text)	Months 4–5
Publication & start of signature collection	4-month deadline; target: 15’000+ signatures as a buffer; professional signature-gathering organisation	Month 5
Party contacts & coalition building	PS, Verts, Vert’libéraux; Pro Natura Vaud; BirdLife Vaud; WWF Vaud; Fondation Franz Weber	Months 1–12
Submission of signatures	State Chancellery, official verification	Months 9–11
Grand Conseil debate	Parliamentary anchoring; media work	Following months
Referendum campaign	Geneva neighbourhood, wolf argument, Lake Geneva waterbirds	Before the vote

6. Campaign materials

The Geneva dossier on wildbeimwild.com as the central source of arguments.
The Psychology of hobby hunting in the canton of Vaud as background material.
Local media: 24 heures, Le Temps, La Région, La Côte, Riviera-Chablais, RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse).
Infographic: map of Geneva–Vaud as the Lake Geneva basin. Waterbirds on Lake Geneva. Wolf in the Jura. Cost comparison VD vs. GE.
All campaign materials in French.

7. Further sources

This document is a sample text by IG Wild beim Wild. It may be freely used and adapted to the circumstances of the canton of Vaud by activists, organisations, or initiative committees.

Fact-check: The claims of the hobby-hunting lobby

The brochure «Die Jagd in der Schweiz schützt und nützt» by JagdSchweiz reads like a promotional pamphlet – yet its central claims do not hold up to a fact-check. Ten narratives put to the test, from “state duty” to “biodiversity” and “80% approval”: Dossier: Fact-Check JagdSchweiz Brochure →