Hobby hunter banned from hunting over tax debts
Vaud is the only canton in French-speaking Switzerland with such a provision. At least twenty hobby hunters are affected by this rule every year — a figure the canton has not confirmed. However, no similar rule exists for hobby fishermen.
If you have tax debts, you are not allowed to slaughter wild boar.
Emmanuel Ansermet (42) learned this the hard way. This hobby hunter, who lives in Rovray, not far from Yverdon-les-Bains, was refused a hunting licence by the Jura-Nord-Vaud prefecture on 2 October. For the second year in a row.
The reason: he has tax debts. Article 31 of the Vaud Wildlife Act states that the holder of a hunting licence «must not be a debtor of a debt under public law,»writes 24 heures.
“The law is unfair,” said this ecologist, who has had a passion for hunting since his youth. “I am poor. I had an illness in 2012 and my income dropped. I would love to be able to pay back these tax debts, but I have set different priorities.”
A Vaud peculiarity
Charles-Henri de Luze, president of the Vaud Hunting Association, finds this absurd: “We should repeal this law! I see no connection between hobby hunting and any debts or tax arrears.” He raises a further point: “The number of hobby hunters is steadily declining — there are currently fewer than 700. Three decades ago there were still over a thousand.”
Member of parliament Alexandre Berthoud is not shocked: “Hobby hunting on state land is a privilege that must be earned. To enjoy this privilege, one must be in good standing with the state.” More on the hunting law and on hobby hunting.
