Hobby hunters in Germany: Hunting licence vs. field activity

This figure is frequently cited in the media and originates from official reports submitted by the federal states to the German Hunters' Association (DJV).

But how many of these licence holders are actually out in the field on a regular basis — and how many have passed the exam but now leave their rifle in the cabinet?

Where the figure comes from

According to DJV press spokesman Torsten Reinwald, the figure of 460’000 is based not on examinations but on the hunting licences issued in the individual federal states. The number of candidates and passed examinations is recorded and published separately.

Active or passive?

Whether these licence holders actually go hobby hunting on a regular basis is more difficult to determine. Reliable nationwide data are lacking. A DJV membership survey conducted in 2022 does at least provide some indications:

• Around one third of respondents lease their own hunting ground.
• Around two thirds hunt with access permits, on invitation, or are active as dog handlers.

Extrapolating these figures to the total number and taking into account that not all licence holders are members of the DJV and that some obtain their licence purely “in reserve,” a rough estimate emerges:

• Actively hunting on a regular basis: presumably 250’000 to 300’000 individuals.
• Rarely or never hunting: presumably 160’000 to 210’000 individuals.

This estimate takes into account that there is also a small group of licence holders who have no hunting opportunities of their own but retain their licence for personal or professional reasons nonetheless.

Who are the new hobby hunters?

Hunting in Germany is becoming more female: the average age of women taking the hunting examination fell from 36 to 33 years between 2011 and 2021. Men remain constant at 35 years. Around 20’000 people complete the so-called «Green Abitur» each year – twice as many as ten years ago.

Difficult data collection

Why are there no clear figures on the «really active» hobby hunters in Germany? One reason is that many hunting schools lose contact with their graduates after they pass their exam. In addition, some take their exam in a different federal state than the one where they later hunt – or they give up this nonsense after a short time. Anyone who wants to engage in meaningful wildlife conservation does not need a gun.

The figure of 460’000 hunting licence holders only shows how many people currently have the right to hunt – not how many are regularly active in the field. A realistic assessment suggests that around two thirds are genuinely out and about on a regular basis, while roughly one third practises hunting only occasionally or not at all.