Property in Hesse finally declared hunting-free

The couple had applied for a hunting ban on their property on 28 December 2017, on ethical grounds.

A dream of their own paradise

The animal lovers are convinced that animals, like humans, have a right to life. They therefore follow an exclusively vegan diet. “By recreating a largely natural habitat for plants and animals, as well as establishing a self-sufficient ecological food supply, we want to make our contribution to sustainability,” say Lisa and Moto.

After their wedding in April 2017, the two teachers fulfilled a dream by purchasing a small piece of land: “We intend to build our own little paradise.”

On the nearly 1.5-hectare agricultural plot in Mittelgründau — previously used as a horse paddock — the couple are creating their family home in the form of a permaculture forest garden: on a quarter of the land, trees, shrubs, and perennial vegetables are to grow. Further areas are to be used for bio-vegan farming. A living fence of trees and shrubs will enclose the majority of the property's interior in an oval shape. To foster a natural balance of flora and fauna, a pond for amphibians and aquatic plants is also planned.

Since Lisa and Moto live in Frankfurt am Main, they erected a yurt on their property where they can stay overnight to manage the intensive and time-consuming gardening work on site.

Recreational hunters on private land: compulsory hunting

In December 2017, the couple received a phone call from the authorities: “The authorities informed us that, following a complaint from a recreational hunter, we would have to dismantle the yurt.” How could this be? What did the recreational hunters have to do with their property?

The hobby hunter's complaint meant that the couple had to engage more deeply with the topic. Lisa and Moto learned that all landowners outside of closed localities automatically become members of a hunting cooperative . This means that hobby hunters are permitted to practise recreational hunting on private properties that are involuntarily part of a hunting cooperative. They are allowed to erect raised hides and set up feeding stations, shoot animals, place traps, and even conduct driven hunts . None of this had been mentioned to them when they purchased the property!

The path to hunting law pacification

Lisa and Moto quickly came across the citizens' initiative «Zwangsbejagung ade» («Goodbye to compulsory hunting») during their online research, and learned that, following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), landowners have the right to apply for hunting law pacification of their property. On 28 December 2017, Lisa and Moto submitted their application to the Lower Hunting Authority of the Main-Kinzig district and engaged lawyer Peer Fiesel, who has already supported over a hundred landowners in achieving hunting law pacification of their land.

Lisa and Moto had to wait nearly four years. Then came the good news: the property has been pacified since the start of the new hunting year 2021/22 on 1 April 2021. «Yes, the property has been pacified since our 4th wedding anniversary on 1 April 2021!» rejoice Lisa and Moto, who are now the happy parents of their little son Yasu. And: «We also wrote a book», the two report.