Switzerland: wolf policy, kills and hunting fairs

On Friday, 2 January 2026, the hunting and wildlife debate in Switzerland continues with two clear focal points: political pressure on the wolf and cantonal course-setting on kill quotas. At the same time, upcoming events such as the hunting fair in Spreitenbach and the trophy show in Thun are already providing conflict material weeks in advance.

Wild beim Wild editorial team — 2 January 2026

The debate around wolf culls remains the biggest political driver.

SRF reported on 3 December 2025 that, following the Council of States, the National Council also intends to lower the thresholds for culling wolves. At the same time, it is emphasised in this context that the reported killings of farm animals are declining.

In the coming weeks, it will be decisive how cantons translate this political direction into enforcement, rulings and communication. Associations, too, interpret the decisions as a signal to continue the course of regulation.

Cantons: 2025 hunting statistics and special hunts shape the planning

In parallel to wolf policy, the cantonal hobby hunting practice delivers the next points of contention: how high must culls be, what justifies them, and what objectives lie behind them?

On 23 October 2025, Grisons reported a positive assessment of the 2025 Grisons high hunt: a good red deer cull, roe deer at the long-term average, chamois slightly below average. In order to meet the high kill quotas set for red deer and roe deer, a special hunt is again planned in all regions in November and December.

In autumn 2025, Uri also showed how quickly targets and reality can diverge: on 16 October 2025, the canton announced that fewer red deer than expected had been killed during the big game hunt and that a special hunt was necessary.

Die Hobby-Jagd startet am Schreibtisch

Hunting fairs and trophies: dates are set, debate is already under way

Even before the first major hobby hunting events of 2026 take place, the dispute over hunting culture and marketing is once again visible.

On 2 January 2026, the IG Wild beim Wild published several press releases, including «Fur and trophies in Thun» as well as «No to the hunting fair at the Umwelt Arena Spreitenbach!» and a critical assessment of the hunting horn blowers' festival in Liestal.

Specifically, three dates are at stake that are already relevant in many people's agendas:

Thun: trophy exhibition as well as fur and pelt market on 30 and 31 January 2026 at the Thun Expo grounds.
Spreitenbach: Jagdmesse Schweiz on 7 and 8 March 2026 at the Umwelt Arena.
Liestal: Federal and International Hunting Horn Blowers' Festival on 30 May 2026.

In the canton of Zurich, registrations for the hunting examination and the hunting supervision examination will be accepted from 9 January 2026; in the canton of Uri, the call for applications for the 2026/2027 hunting course runs until 12 January 2026.