Animal welfare problem: Wild animals die agonizing deaths

The IG Wild beim Wild (IG Wild with Wild) points out the misconception that consuming wild animals is more humane than consuming meat from factory farms, as many animals suffer prolonged pain after being shot. Hobby hunters (apart from those practicing vivisection ) inflict the most suffering and abuse on animals , particularly through their methods of killing. A life lived in fear of hobby hunters is perhaps no better than life on a farm.

Roe deer have become crepuscular and nocturnal because they have been forced into this by recreational hunters. They no longer move across open fields as they once did, because they are easier to shoot there. As a result, roe deer prefer to stay in the safety of the forest and forage there (browsing buds). All ungulates have changed their behavior and expanded their natural habitat due to the hunting activities of recreational hunters. Wild boar, normally forest dwellers, now roam meadows and fields; red deer, normally inhabitants of open and semi-open landscapes, retreat into the forest; and roe deer, which usually prefers the forest edge, now wander back and forth.

Hunting is often seen as a way to obtain venison from animals that have lived in their natural environment. However, the romanticized image of the recreational hunter as a steward of nature and a sustainable food provider is severely tarnished by the reality of death and animal suffering. While some recreational hunters have perfected their skills and are able to kill animals quickly and painlessly, there are many cases of misfires and inadequate training.

If recreational hunting is not carried out properly, it can lead to great animal suffering. Even a well-placed shot does not necessarily mean an immediate death for the wild animal. Often, the animal is initially wounded and flees into the woods. It can take hours or even days before the animal finally dies or is put down by a tracking dog handler.

As recently revealed, one in ten deer in the canton of Graubünden is only wounded rather than killed, according to a statistical survey in 2016. This is in the canton where, according to the hunting association, hunting training is the best in all of Switzerland.

What has changed since then? Nothing!

There are no nationwide statistics in Switzerland on searches for injured wild animals . Graubünden is one of the few cantons that keep records of these searches. Other cantons that do so are reportedly Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Nidwalden, Ticino, Uri, and Vaud.

Experience shows that a double-digit percentage of shot animals do not die instantly. This may seem like a relatively small number at first glance, but when you consider that around 40,000 deer are killed in Switzerland every year, this still means agonizing suffering for approximately 4,000 animals of this species. And these are only the officially recorded figures.

Similar findings were presented by the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. During driven hunts for wild boar and deer in Hesse, less than a third of the shot animals were fatally wounded. More than two-thirds of the hunted animals suffered injuries including blown jaws, shattered legs, abdominal gunshot wounds, severe spinal cord injuries, or other extremely brutal wounds.

That's not ethical hunting practice. And certainly not in accordance with animal welfare regulations. "No one," as stated in the Animal Welfare Act :

No one may unjustifiably inflict pain, suffering, or harm on an animal, cause it fear, or otherwise violate its dignity. The mistreatment, neglect, or unnecessary overexertion of animals is prohibited.

Animal Welfare Act

Today's recreational hunting is, in essence, simply and thoroughly criminal. It's just that our legal system isn't yet advanced enough to take this into account in criminal law.

It's important to note that not all recreational hunters who miss a shot call a tracking dog handler, especially not when it comes to foxes, badgers, and the like. No recreational hunter wants to be seen as a failure. And recreational hunting already enjoys a poor reputation among many members of the public. Even when they do call for tracking, not every attempt is successful. There is no reliable data on how many animals actually die in the forests without their suffering being documented. This is particularly true for foxes, for example, where over 20,000 are shot without cause each year by militant recreational hunters in Switzerland , or for pine martens and songbirds like jays, according to hunting statistics.

Animal rights activists are therefore repeatedly calling for proper proof of marksmanship for recreational hunters. An annual performance test as a prerequisite for hunting can help assess the skills of recreational hunters and ensure they are capable of killing animals quickly and painlessly. This can reduce animal suffering. However, much stricter rules are needed, similar to those for driving tests. Currently, recreational hunters can repeat the foolproof shooting program of the mandatory hunting shooting test as often as they like until they pass. And yet, in practice, this proof of marksmanship is clearly of little use in hunting situations. Very few recreational hunters practice shooting regularly throughout the year at a shooting range.

In the canton of Geneva, where hobby hunters are exempt, it is known that game wardens are much better shots.

It is the responsibility of all involved to advocate for the responsible treatment of living beings. Wildlife management, as in the Canton of Geneva, must be carried out with sufficient expertise, training, and respect for animal life.

It is time to end the unnecessary cruelty to animals in the undergrowth and to ensure that wildlife management is carried out in a humane and animal welfare-compliant manner.

Discussions about ethics in society are essential to reaching a consensus on how we should treat animals. It's important to remember that hunting is not the only option. There are scientific studies and case studies that clearly document the absurdity of hunting many animal species as a hobby, or the effectiveness of birth control.

In addition to strict accuracy, other aspects of hunting should also be considered to minimize animal suffering. Scientific training for recreational hunters is essential to ensure they possess the necessary skills and knowledge. Mandatory continuing education courses for recreational hunters are imperative, as is a comprehensive psychological assessment every few years.

The environmental impact of recreational hunting should also be considered. It is important to ensure that recreational hunting does not lead to overhunting, which disrupts the balance of ecosystems, as we are currently witnessing. Collaboration between game wardens, conservation organizations, and scientists is crucial to ensuring that recreational hunting remains consistent with nature and wildlife conservation goals.

Recreational hunting doesn't mean fewer wild animals, but rather more births. Due to the many losses of young animals, the animals produce more offspring.

What many don't know is that Swiss recreational hunters shoot over 10,000 fawns every year. At the federal level , deer only have a minimal closed season from February 1st to April 30th. The same recreational hunter who saves a fawn from being killed by a mower in the morning can shoot another fawn that same evening. Many recreational hunters do this, partly because of the tender meat, according to an appeal by Tarzisius Caviezel in the Graubünden hunting magazine. Fawns are easier to shoot and more popular with recreational hunters than older animals.

Public opinion on hunting and animal welfare has changed significantly in recent years. More and more people are advocating for the respectful and humane treatment of animals. Therefore, adherence to ethical standards and the protection of the welfare of living animals should be a top priority for all recreational hunters.

Furthermore, awareness of the responsibility that comes with hunting should be strengthened. Hobby hunters should be much more aware that they hold the lives of animals in their hands and that their actions cause great suffering. Wild animals also live in social groups and can become ill due to hunting pressure.

Conservation organizations and government agencies also play a crucial role. They should implement much stricter controls and monitoring of hunting activities to ensure compliance with animal and nature conservation laws and regulations. Hunting animals for sport is unacceptable.

Furthermore, technological solutions such as improved aiming aids and silencers could help increase accuracy and reduce the noise level during shooting. Every shot disturbs the entire ecosystem, which is a major problem, especially in winter. This would not only reduce animal suffering but also improve safety for other forest visitors and residents.

It is also important to raise public awareness of this issue. People should be informed and made aware that recreational hunting is not as romantic and idyllic as it is often portrayed. They should understand that inaccurate shots and animal suffering are not uncommon and that urgent measures are needed to minimize these problems. More on this topic of animal welfare .

The hunting industry itself could contribute to the solution by being more open to criticism and suggestions for improvement. Instead of turning a blind eye to the problems, recreational hunters and hunting associations should work together to abolish the many unsavory hunting practices and prioritize animal welfare and respect for living beings.