Hunting Practice in the Canton of Nidwalden 2021-2022

During the hunt in the coming autumn and winter, practically the same amount of red deer and roe deer may be taken as in the previous year.

Chamois, however, require further protection. The quota introduced in the previous year will be maintained and the number of permitted kills reduced slightly once more.

Compared to the previous season, the number of red deer that may be shot during the high hunt, management hunt, and regulation hunt remains virtually unchanged. A total of 21 stags (previous year: 23) and 64 head of antlerless deer (60) — that is, female red deer and calves — have been released for culling. The slightly higher number for antlerless deer has been set in order to counteract the current growth trend. To ensure the protection of mother animals is maintained, the calf must still be taken before the adult female. No changes are needed for roe deer hunting, as the population is stable. Hunters without a high-hunt licence may take one adult roe deer and one fawn; those holding a high-hunt licence are permitted one roe doe or two fawns.

The declining chamois population continues to cause concern, which is why the quota introduced in the previous year will be maintained. A total of 60 animals (previous year: 65) have been released for culling, of which 16 (23) are chamois bucks. Once again, only one chamois may be shot per person. With this measure, the cantonal government hopes to allow the population to recover. The high hunt runs from 1 to 22 September; chamois may be taken from 3 September onwards. The small game season runs from 15 October to 30 November (except roe deer: until 2 November only).

Furthermore, the cantonal government has decided to discontinue shooting bounties in the future. It justifies this step by stating that no legal basis exists to justify this practice, which was introduced in earlier times.

Shot animals can be recorded directly in the app

Hunting in Nidwalden has recently entered the digital age. Hunters now have access to a new app with which harvested animals can be recorded. This also makes the process at the game inspection more efficient. In addition, the app will allow users to view their own hunting statistics over multiple years. It will also be possible in the future to retrieve certain documents, such as the hunting regulations, directly on a smartphone. The app has already proven very popular. Furthermore, the Division of Hunting and Fisheries published a comprehensive review of the past hunting season for the first time this April, in the form of a small brochure. The brochure was printed in a run of 350 copies and distributed to all registered hunters in the canton of Nidwalden.