Sample text: Reform of cantonal high-altitude hunting

1. Motion

The cantonal government is mandated to submit a proposal to the cantonal parliament for fundamental reform of cantonal high-altitude hunting. The reform must ensure in particular that

• blanket, area-wide high-altitude hunting with fixed hunting periods is replaced by evidence-based, case-by-case wildlife management
• culling quotas and hunting periods are established according to the principle of ecological necessity and proportionality
• mandatory rest zones are designated during high-altitude hunting
• cantonal high-altitude hunting is opened for independent evaluation that systematically records hit rates, missed shots, time to death and stress effects

In particular, it must be legislated that

• the canton reviews within three years whether high-altitude hunting can be completely replaced by professional wildlife rangers
• the results of high-altitude hunting are published in full and publicly on an annual basis
• wildlife species listed on the Red List are exempted from high-altitude hunting
• the use of dogs and beaters during high-altitude hunting is prohibited or restricted to the minimum

2. Brief rationale

High-altitude hunting is an annual ritual that has far more to do with tradition than with modern wildlife management. For several weeks each year, hundreds of recreational hunters venture into the high mountains and put wildlife under acute stress—at a time of year when they need to build up energy reserves for winter.

High-altitude hunting causes severe stress in hunted wildlife that flee from noise and gunshots. Paradoxically, this leads to browsing damage at lower elevations, which is then cited as evidence for the supposed necessity of recreational hunting. This motion calls for fundamental reform—away from tradition, toward the wildlife ranger model.

• Dossier High-altitude hunting: Link
• Dossier Special hunting in Graubünden
• Dossier The wildlife ranger model