Fatal Hunting Accident in the Canton of Vaud
On Friday, 29 November 2024, a recreational hunter was killed during a hunt in the Canton of Vaud after a member of the group fired a shot in Oulens-sur-Echallens.
A group of seven recreational hunters gathered to hunt a sounder of wild boar that had been reported by the gamekeeper in Oulens-sur-Echallens.
These wild boar were located by the recreational hunters in an area covered by bramble bushes and therefore inaccessible.
Shortly after 2:00 p.m., one of the recreational hunters attempted to drive the animals away by firing “stalking” shots, as the use of his dogs had not produced the desired result.
Another recreational hunter then fired at a wild boar that had been put to flight by the previous shots, without hitting it.
Fatal Shot Strikes Waiting Recreational Hunter
Under circumstances that the investigation has yet to clarify, one of the shots fatally struck a waiting recreational hunter. The victim is a 64-year-old Swiss national residing in the Canton of Fribourg. Emergency responders on the scene could only confirm his death.
The two recreational hunters who fired shots during this hobby hunt, two Swiss nationals aged 67 and 80 residing in the region, were questioned in the presence of a lawyer. The public prosecutor's office was informed and the duty prosecutor opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the death. She entrusted the investigation to security police personnel. One of the recreational hunters admitted to being the author of the fatal shot. The hypothesis currently being retained is: “negligent homicide”.
The police point out that a shot may only be fired if the recreational hunter has precisely identified the target animal and ensured that the shot will not result in other persons being endangered, directly or indirectly. The law also prohibits any shot intended to drive away wildlife.
IG Wild beim Wild demands consequences
This incident mobilized two gendarmerie patrols as well as inspectors from the security police, including the forensic science brigade.
According to IG Wild beim Wild, annual medical-psychological assessments for recreational hunters are needed, modeled on the Dutch system, as well as an upper age limit. The largest age group among recreational hunters is 65+, those with age-related, cognitive, visual, concentration and reaction impairments, as well as training and practice deficits. From the age of 45 onwards, the number of accidents rises dramatically. The alarming reports of hunting accidents and fatal criminal acts involving hunters' weapons make it clear: it is high time to abolish recreational hunting! Lethal firearms must not be placed in the hands of senile recreational hunters who are able to use them completely unchecked!
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