Are Wildlife Being Driven from Mountain to Valley by Helicopters in Graubünden?
Local residents report unusual scenes in the Domleschg region of Graubünden. Dark helicopters circle above the mountain slopes, driving wildlife toward the valley. In Switzerland, the use of aircraft or drones to hunt or drive wildlife is fundamentally prohibited.
Graubünden is notorious for its driven hunts, criminal activity and brutality, particularly during the animal-tormenting Sonderjagd or the senseless Niederjagd as well as the unscientific wolf hunt.
The small patches of woodland, fields and farmyards make the area very exposed. When walkers pass through, they always have an uneasy feeling, not least because a hobby hunter recently stated that they shoot dogs only when they are not on a leash. Hobby hunters are not simply permitted to shoot dogs. In many cantons, stray dogs that are demonstrably chasing wildlife and are not under control may, in extreme cases, be killed. Dogs on leads or people on ordinary walks are not affected by this. What the hobby hunter said sounds clearly like intimidation.
Hobby hunters even fire past women with prams in that area. Last year, a woman suffered a nervous breakdown because hobby hunters fired so close past her. Others now avoid the area entirely.
On 01.09.2025, the Hochjagd season begins in Graubünden
Witnesses observed the helicopter hovering in the air before descending, and they could clearly see that ungulates were being driven into the valley so that they could later be shot more easily and without effort during the hunt.
Observers also report to IG Wild beim Wild that hobby hunters have set up feeding stations in order to attract wildlife in the lowlands. However, deliberate baiting is illegal in the context of the high hunt.
The responsible office under the direction of Adrian Arquint dismisses complaints with lame excuses: "There is nothing one can do about it."
The claim that nothing can be done is simply false, says a spokesperson for IG Wild beim Wild. This is not only a matter of animal protection– and hunting law, but of human lives.
When helicopters are used for driving game and shots are fired in the immediate vicinity of pedestrians, or feeding stations are set up, this is not legal. What was said at the Office for Hunting and Nonsense — "that nothing could be done about it" — is simply not true: the police or the wildlife wardens must intervene.
Hobby hunters are obligated to ensure absolute safety. Shots must never be fired in the direction of people, houses, roads, or footpaths. The fact that someone "shot past a woman with a pram" is extremely dangerous and a clear violation of safety regulations. Such incidents should always be reported to the police immediately without exception.
It is understandable that pedestrians feel uncomfortable — but legally speaking: hobby hunters must comply with the laws and must not jeopardize public safety.
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