Canton Uri relaxes regulations for hobby hunters

The cantonal government has instructed the Department of Security to conduct a consultation on the revision of the cantonal hunting ordinance.

The amendments made in recent years to the federal hunting act and the federal hunting ordinance require that the cantonal hunting ordinance also be partially realigned. The effects of the large predator initiative adopted by the people of Uri in 2019 must also be incorporated into the ordinance. In addition, account is taken of the changed framework conditions for the practice of hunting, and gaps or deficiencies in enforcement are addressed. On the whole, however, positive experiences have been made with the current hunting ordinance, which is why its fundamental principles are not being called into question.

A working group was established for the revision process, comprising representatives from the Korporation Uri, hunters' associations, Wald Uri, the Uri Farmers' Association, the Uri Environmental Council, and the Department of Security, which drafted the proposal for submission to the cantonal government.

The revision primarily concerns the following areas:

• The grounds for exclusion from obtaining a hunting licence are more clearly defined and aligned with the current criminal code.
• The nationally applicable marksmanship proficiency requirement is reflected accordingly in the ordinance.
• The concept of hunting regions is enshrined in the ordinance.
• The introduction of additional licence categories and additional combination options enables hunters to pursue a more individualised approach to hunting. At the same time, the fees for the individual licence categories must also be newly established.
• Amendments are also being made to the regulations governing the practice of hunting, particularly regarding the obligation to carry identification and the use of roads.
• The supplementary feeding of ungulates is regulated by law.
• A leash requirement for dogs in and at the edge of forests during the spring birthing season is intended to better protect young animals from life-threatening disturbances.
• The mandate of the cantonal constitutional article on protection from large predators and population regulation is now reflected in the hunting ordinance.
• Hunting of ptarmigan and mountain hares is to be discontinued, as the main habitat of these species is becoming increasingly smaller.
• The circle of persons required to report hunting offences is to be significantly reduced.
• In the area of penalties/criminal proceedings, the listing of individual offences is dispensed with and reference is made to applicable law.

Ptarmigan and snow hares can hope for more peace and quiet in the canton of Uri. The government also wants to provide additional protection for young wildlife by introducing a new time-limited general leash requirement for dogs in forests and forest edge areas during the wildlife breeding season from 1 April to 31 July.

The government wants to ease access to hunting for hunters. Foreign nationals will no longer need to have been residents of the canton of Uri for ten years before being permitted to hunt. Hunters will also no longer need to demonstrate their marksmanship with the weapon they use while hunting, but simply with any hunting-suitable firearm.

Consultation on the revision of the cantonal hunting ordinance