Sample text: Reform of the cantonal high-altitude hunting

1. Motion

The government council is instructed to submit a proposal to the cantonal parliament for a fundamental reform of the cantonal hunting regulations. The reform must, in particular, ensure that

• The blanket, nationwide high-level hunting with fixed hunting seasons is replaced by evidence-based, case-by-case wildlife management.
• Shooting quotas and hunting seasons are determined according to the principles of ecological necessity and proportionality.
• During the high season, mandatory quiet zones are designated.
• The cantonal high-level hunting area will be opened up for an independent evaluation, systematically recording hit rate, missed shots, time to death and stress effect

In particular, it must be legally regulated that

• The canton will examine within three years whether high-altitude hunting can be completely replaced by professional game wardens.
• The results of the high-altitude hunt are published fully and publicly every year.
• Wildlife species that are on the Red List are exempt from high-level hunting.
• The use of dogs and beaters during high-altitude hunting is prohibited or restricted to a minimum.

2. Brief explanation

High- altitude hunting is an annual ritual that has far more to do with tradition than with modern wildlife management. For a few weeks, hundreds of recreational hunters head into the high mountains, subjecting wild animals to acute stress – at a time of year when they need to build up energy reserves for the winter.

High-altitude hunting causes massive stress to non-hunted wildlife, which flee from noise and gunfire. Paradoxically, this leads to browsing damage in lower elevations, which is then used to justify the necessity of recreational hunting. This motion calls for a fundamental reform – away from the traditional ritual and towards a game warden model .

• High Hunting Dossier: Link
• Dossier: Special Hunt in Graubünden
• Dossier: The Game Warden Model