Federal Hunting Act: Hobby Hunters Targeting Red Deer and Roe Deer
Midwinter. Roe deer and red deer are conserving energy. Yet the hobby hunt goes on. A critical look at Germany's Federal Hunting Act.
Midwinter. Large parts of Germany are blanketed in snow. Roe deer and red deer have switched into energy-saving mode.
Kill-for-Cash Events in Midwinter
Nevertheless, there are numerous state-run forestry operations that offer group hunts targeting these ruminating cloven-hoofed animals well into January. Federal Minister Klöckner continues to erode the standards of animal welfare.
Even today, so-called ungulates have the longest hunting seasons in Europe. There is not a single month in which these animals are not pursued. To enable even more wildlife to be killed in the future, Klöckner wants to abolish official cull planning.
Milder Measures Are Possible
The population size of roe deer or red deer is not actually the decisive factor in their impact on forest regeneration. There are therefore less drastic alternatives to the lethal approach envisaged by the Klöckner administration. A legal opinion from the German Legal Society for Animal Protection Law (DJGT) identifies this as a violation of Article 20a of the Basic Law.
In a recent statement, 28 animal and nature conservation organisations have rejected the draft amendment to the Federal Hunting Act, which they regard as hostile to animal welfare and wildlife.
