Canton of Fribourg: Woodcock hunting despite Red List status

Threatened bird species historically hunted

Thus, legal kills of the capercaillie by hobby hunters in the canton of Fribourg were abolished in 1953, the hobby hunting of the hazel grouse in 1962, of the black grouse in 1976, and hunting of the grey partridge was continued through reintroductions until 1987, before being banned — unfortunately only after the species had disappeared.

The Eurasian woodcock is one of 50 priority species for species conservation, for whose preservation and promotion special measures must be taken in Switzerland. On the Red List of threatened species it is listed as “vulnerable”, but remains huntable in Switzerland and in the canton of Fribourg.

Currently, the Eurasian woodcock may be hunted in the canton of Fribourg from 15 October to 14 December. This occurred 76 times in the canton in 2022, and 1’805 times across Switzerland.

The only European wading bird living in forests

It is the only European wading bird that lives exclusively in forests. As it nests on the ground, the Eurasian woodcock is particularly vulnerable and sensitive to disturbances in the forest caused by the activities of hobby hunters. In Switzerland, the population has been declining since 1990. As a breeding bird species, it has already disappeared from the Midlands. It is still well represented in the Pre-Alps, but has vanished from several areas where it bred 30 years ago. In the canton of Fribourg, the Eurasian woodcock no longer breeds below 1’000 m altitude.

In our country, more than 1’400 Eurasian woodcocks shot. All German-speaking cantons suspended woodcock hunting as populations declined to alarming levels. In Fribourg, however, an average of approximately 100 woodcocks are shot each year, even though woodcock hunting has no locally rooted tradition. Woodcock hunting takes place from October to December 14, ostensibly to protect our native woodcocks, which should have already migrated by that time. However, it has now been established that woodcocks breeding in Switzerland are also among the animals killed. A study conducted by the federal government between 2015 and 2018 (Bohnenstengel et al. 2020, Projet national sur la Bécasse des bois) demonstrated the negative impact of hunting on the breeding population in Switzerland. According to this study, the majority of our woodcocks are still in Switzerland at the end of October when the hunting season begins, and many of them are then shot.

State Council seeks to place tradition above species protection

The State Council is aware of the problem. However, it does not envisage abolishing woodcock hunting in the canton of Fribourg, but rather an adjustment of hobby hunting from 2024 onwards. The aim is to better protect the native population in accordance with federal recommendations while simultaneously ensuring the continuation of this time-honoured hunt, writes 20min.ch.