Problem Hunter Keeps Licence After Hunting Rampage

The 61-year-old problem hunter Paul Reinhart from Kalthäusern, who terrorised a flock of sheep like a rabid dog on the night of 29 December, will apparently be allowed to continue hunting.

The incident is «merely a case of criminal damage».

Animal Welfare Law and Hunting Law in Disarray

The supposedly best animal welfare law in the world and its enforcement are in extreme disarray in the canton of Thurgau. The same goes for hunting legislation. And this has been the case long before the Hefenhofen affair. This case is likely to be closed with a report — not just as far as the prosecution authorities are concerned. From the public prosecutor’s perspective, the conduct in question does not constitute a criminal offence, as their media spokesperson Stefan Haffter explained in response to an enquiry from the Tagblatt. «The hunter holds a valid hunting licence and there is currently no closed season for wild boar.» From a criminal law standpoint, the offence of criminal damage could be considered. «However, since the hunter acted under a factual error and negligent criminal damage is not a punishable offence, he cannot be held accountable in this regard,» Haffter explained.

In the customary “good-old-boys” mentality of recreational hunters, the matter has now been swept under the rug. The Thurgau hunter settled his stray shots with his wallet in order to keep the animal owner quiet. The recreational hunters, as well as the owner of the slaughtered sheep, are tight-lipped about the amount of the financial compensation. Not even the cantonal hunting association is holding the recreational hunter consistently accountable — that is to say, demanding the revocation of his licence.

Seven dead sheep are – viewed in isolation – no great tragedy. A hunter who doesn't know exactly what he's shooting at, however, is, as Silvan Meilen from the Tagblatt rightly comments.

Seven sheep killed – no consequences

In the night leading into Saturday, the problem hunter shot and killed four sheep from a flock while hunting between Affeltrangen and Thundorf, and wounded three others so severely that they had to be slaughtered. He was probably a poor marksman too, given the three sheep left with non-fatal wounds.Wounding shots contradict any notion of hunting ethics, are sharply condemned as unsportsmanlike and must lead to legal consequences. But everything seems to be back in perfect hunting order. At the same time, the hobby hunters immediately closed ranks in silence (omerta). An announced press release from the hobby hunters ended up in the wastepaper basket before it was ever sent. The public was probably not supposed to learn anything about this disgraceful incident, as usual. Those who act this way are cementing their own image problem. The dubious hunters' association should not be surprised in future either, when it is shot at by animal rights advocates.

The sheep were not shot with buckshot, but with individual bullets. The killed livestock reportedly belonged to one of the migratory flocks that travel through the lowlands, particularly in winter. In such a case, liability rests exclusively with the negligent shooter. Hunters are generally required to take out a special liability insurance policy in order to maintain their hunting licence. On the basis of an out-of-court settlement, the animal owner waived the right to press charges against the shooter. However, the police were also alerted that night. According to Daniel Meili, media spokesperson for the Thurgau cantonal police, an alcohol breath test was administered on the spot. The result: 0.00 per mille. This also allows one to infer that the problem hunter suffers from serious neurological disorders – which, in the jargon of hobby hunters, is by no means uncommon. Unlike in military or police service, there are no health checks for hobby hunters. The militia hunting system and the hunting associations are always a gathering pool for criminals and the mentally ill, who should in fact be the last people to hold a firearms licence or hunting permit. Hobby hunting always brings out only the worst in people.

Foundation Animal in Law sees further consequences

The police report this incident to the cantonal hunting and fisheries authority. The corresponding report will land on the desk of department head Roman Kistler. “I am not aware of any such case in the past 15 years,” says Kistler. However, the offending hunter will hardly have to reckon with the revocation of his hunting licence. “That is really only done by the judge,” says Kistler, even though the Department of Justice and Security would also have the authority to do so.

The competent experts from the Foundation for the Animal in Law see this very differently. According to the foundation, the hunter faces even more consequences:

Update 9 January 2018

The 61-year-old problem hunter, Paul Reinhart from Kalthäusern, has now been reported by the Thurgau Animal Welfare Association on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Update 12 January 2018

It was a veritable sheep massacre: believing them to be wild boar, Paul R. shot four sheep. Three injured animals also had to be emergency slaughtered. Now the shooter is facing the consequences and surrendering his licence.

More on this in the dossier: Hunting and Animal Welfare