Canton Schwyz: Eldorado for Hunting Crimes
Two hobby hunters have been convicted by a penal order issued by the Canton Schwyz public prosecutor's office for multiple intentional and attempted violations of the Hunting Act.
In December 2024, six wire snares were installed in a wooded area near Pfäffikon SZ by two men in order to trap wild animals.
Snares are among the most cruel things that exist. This is clear animal cruelty. It has nothing to do with hunting — this is pure poaching. The fact that the men also laid bait to deliberately lure wild animals further underscores their criminal intent, according to the public prosecutor's office.
Similar incidents occur repeatedly in the canton of Valais in order to torment and kill lynxes.
Wire snares and wire cords are illegal in Switzerland and Germany, as are the prohibited hunting implements the men were carrying, such as slingshots and high-powered crossbows.
The use of wire snares is not only illegal, but also ethically indefensible. It constitutes unnecessary animal cruelty and runs counter to the principles of ethical, fair-chase hunting.
The Foundation for the Animal in Law (TIR) classifies the case as attempted animal cruelty, even though no animal was harmed. It is noted that such cases of poaching are rarely detected and prosecuted, and that there is a need for targeted training for law enforcement authorities.
In practice, it becomes apparent time and again that law enforcement authorities sometimes lack the specific expertise needed to adequately identify and consistently prosecute possible violations of animal welfare law, says Laura Baumann of TIR. To counter this, targeted training and greater awareness of animal welfare issues within the criminal prosecution process are required.
The two men were sentenced to 90 daily penalty units of 80 francs each, amounting to 7’120 francs. In addition, procedural costs of 5’369 francs were imposed. The total amount came to 13'039 francs.
These hobby hunters are evidently neither well trained nor in possession of sound moral integrity.
When it comes to hunting and hobby hunters in particular, it is essential that the public pays very close attention. Nowhere else is there so much manipulation through falsehoods and fake news.Violence and lies are two sides of the same coin. Recreational hunting has been nothing other than a permanently costly construction site, patchwork quilt, and point of contention for politics, forestry and agriculture, administrations, the judiciary, health insurers, insurance companies, animal welfare, environmental and nature conservation organizations, the police, federal authorities, the media, etc. for decades.
Any other organization with so much criminal energy would have long since been targeted by the federal prosecutor's office!
Current criminal offenses by hobby hunters in Switzerland are listed here: Link
