On Monday morning, the hunting season began in the Valais forests as well, with the exception of federal wildlife sanctuaries.
A Federal Court ruling has changed practices in these nature reserves. Until this year, cantons were permitted to allow hunting in federal wildlife sanctuaries.The shooting of wild animals in these 42 nature reserves remains possible, but is now restricted to regulatory purposes.
The catalyst for this paradigm shift was a complaint by Pro Natura against deer hunting in the Aletsch Forest (VS). In the seven Valais open-range districts, this change in practice means that chamois and roe deer may no longer be shot. Furthermore, only one deer per hobby hunter — who is now selected by lottery — may be taken.
«The Federal Court ruled against the opinion of the State Council and the Valais Cantonal Court in favour of Pro Natura, particularly regarding the distinction between hunting and culling«, explains Jérémy Savioz, head of the Valais section of Pro Natura.
«Culls can be authorised as long as they target a small number of individuals and meet a large number of criteria. Hunting does not fulfil any of these distinctions. The Federal Court found that hunting violates the law«, he continues.
High populations of a species that endanger the flora and fauna of an area could necessitate what are known as «wildlife management interventions». However, this does not mean that the hunting ban is thereby lifted.
«It truly pains me deeply. More than half of our team did not receive a permit. I am afraid of losing the soul of the group, which is very closely knit«, says Eddy Michellod. The Valais hunters affected by the court ruling are a minority. While the ban also concerns the lower part of the Val d’Hérémence, the district of Entremont is particularly affected.
The anger of hobby hunters is all the greater because there is nothing they can do. They are not harmed by a political decision they could fight against.
Changing habits
Some habits have changed considerably as a result of this ruling. «There are hobby hunters who have been hunting in these areas for generations», says Pascal Vuignier, president of the Valais Hunting Association. In Valais, wildlife killers are very attached to their hunting grounds, and some will not be able to hunt in their favourite area this year.
According to Pascal Vuignier, several regions are affected, particularly in Upper Valais and in the district of Entremont, above Martigny. However, Valais is not the only canton affected by the Federal Court ruling, which sets a precedent for the whole of Switzerland.
For Jérémy Savioz, this is «a clear signal that state-protected areas with a high level of cultural heritage and natural features must not be opened up to hunting.«
Ban on lead ammunition
Among the changes to the cantonal ordinance, the inspection of shot chamois was a much-discussed topic. It obliges hobby hunters to hand over the wildlife to the inspection point on the same day. «Since they stay in their huts for several days, there were concerns that they would have to come down every evening, but that is not the case», explains Pascal Vuignier. They can call the game warden and present the chamois at a later time.
In addition, shooting practice must be carried out annually from 2025 instead of every three years, and the use of lead ammunition will be banned after a five-year transition period.
The hunting targets set by the authority for 2021 are 1’800 deer, 2’400–2’700 chamois, and 1’500–1’700 roe deer.
