Recreational hunter poaches crown stags in Graubünden

During the Graubünden highland hunt, a recreational hunter in Seewis im Prättigau shot two crown stags that should not have been killed.

The man was caught by game wardens as he attempted to transport the dead animals away.

The Graubünden cantonal police confirmed on 7 October 2020 reports in regional media stating that the recreational hunter had shot the two crown stags, each weighing over 100 kilograms, in Seewis at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level. The man did not turn himself in following the illegal kills.

Instead, he attempted to transport the stags away with the help of two accomplices. The men were stopped by two game wardens who checked their vehicle and discovered the crown stags. The case has now been referred to the Graubünden public prosecutor's office.

Valuable animals

Crown stags are extremely valuable animals for the population and should not be hunted too heavily, explained the Graubünden hunting inspector Adrian Arquint when asked. During the three-week highland hunt in September, the animals were only open to hunting for three days. According to the hunting regulations, each hunter was permitted to shoot only one crown stag.

In total, according to Arquint, around 30 crown stags are shot each year during the highland hunt. A crown stag is defined as a stag with at least three tines on each antler. In cases of illegal kills, hunters are expected to turn themselves in. In such cases, fines are imposed without involving the public prosecutor's office.

Art. 30 Hunting Regulations

• From 7 to 9 September 2020 inclusive, the bilateral crown stag with an antler length of 60 cm or more is also huntable. On these days, each hunter may shoot a total of only one unilateral or bilateral crown stag, regardless of antler length.
• A bilateral crown stag is one in which the stag has three or more tines above the middle tine on both antlers. A unilateral crown stag is one in which the stag has three or more tines above the middle tine on one antler.
• Tines of the crown are defined as projections of 3 cm or more above the antler surface. The shortest distance from the antler surface at the base of the tine to the tip of the tine is measured. 4
• For the assessment of huntability of crown stags, the measurement of the shorter antler applies.
• All unilateral and bilateral crown stags must be presented to the wildlife warden in fresh condition, regardless of antler length.

During the high hunt in September, the 5,500 hunters were required to shoot a total of 5,560 deer. A detailed report on this year's hunt is not yet available.

In the Graubünden deer factory alone, 1,104 (1,114) fixed-penalty notices and reports to the district offices were filed in 2019 due to violations of hunting legislation. Practically every fifth recreational hunter among the approximately 5,500 is thus an offender, with a large number of unreported cases in the annual cycle.