Swiss recreational hunters torment wildlife on driven hunt in Austria

According to a complaint, on Saturday, 30 March 2019, a driven hunt disguised as a movement hunt took place in the Grosses Walsertal (Fontanella I, district of Bludenz) in Vorarlberg, with several dogs, organised by the then Swiss leaseholder C. G.

Numerous recreational hunters from central Switzerland took part, along with participants from Vorarlberg.

A local game warden was alerted to the troublesome goings-on when several vehicles unknown to him blocked the cooperative's farm track and the police had to be called. Neighbouring hunting ground leaseholders were completely appalled by the way the wildlife was treated.

At issue is a local wildlife habitat where a small number of individuals in the Grosses Walsertal keep animals in such numbers and concentrations for profit that the basic living conditions for these high population densities no longer even exist.

Matthias Bereuter from the forestry service.

The hunting lease of recreational hunter C.G. was apparently not renewed for the 2019/2020 hunting season due to differing views on hunting methods and practices, and expired on 31 March 2019.Was this the reason the recreational hunters wanted to play war one last time during the final weekend of the lease?The recreational hunter has allegedly already leased another hunting area in Vorarlberg (Bürserberg).

On the internet, the insurance consultant draws attention to himself with the following slogan:
«I trade chamois or black grouse or roebuck or red deer in Vorarlberg incl. accommodation etc. in exchange for an interesting hunt ,,,open to many things,,, Video at Www.artio.at Waidmannsgruss C.G.»

According to several eyewitnesses, various species of ungulates were killed during the drive hunt (chamois, red deer, and roe deer). However, the animals were either not presented for inspection, or it is unknown to which supervisory authority they were actually presented.

As a general rule, on 30 March most hunting areas in Vorarlberg are in the closed season for the species mentioned, unless this has been permanently lifted by the authorities on a year-round basis. Either way, according to the new regulation, this hunt was not compliant.

Disturbance in the period following the winter solstice demonstrably causes hunted animals to seek the shelter of cover — namely forests — more frequently due to constant disruption. This in turn can lead to increased so-called browsing damage. Furthermore, it is known among hunters — or can reasonably be assumed — that a trained hunting professional is aware that at this time of year many female animals are in heat or pregnant. A female chamois at the end of March is already in the final third of her gestation period, meaning the foetus is at an advanced stage and is therefore capable of sensation and pain.

Correctly identifying a wild animal during a drive hunt — that is, assessing its age, sex, and overall condition — is, from a hunting perspective, extremely difficult to impossible. In addition, a wildlife feeding station was located in the immediate vicinity. It is therefore questionable whether the hunt on 30 March was conducted strategically, methodologically, and ethically in accordance with the principles of fair chase.

A drive hunt with dogs on 30 March, when the lease expires on 31 March, is ethically and forestry-wise irresponsible. All animals are disturbed in the process — not just the “enemies of the forest.”It is truly disgraceful that the wildlife always bears the consequences when it is humans who are the cause of the problem. Neither foresters nor recreational hunters are capable of conducting this discussion objectively.

For the reasons outlined above, a formal complaint (which is on file with IG Wild beim Wild) has been filed against the recreational hunters by various parties with the competent authority. The presumption of innocence applies to all persons named.

This is not the first time that Swiss recreational hunters have come to attention in Vorarlberg. Just recently, allegations ranging from poaching to animal cruelty were levelled against another hunting association.

Vorarlberg Hunters’ Association condemns drive hunt in the Grosses Walsertal

The Vorarlberg Hunters' Association's foremost principle is the respectful treatment of animals and their habitats. During the driven hunt on March 30, these principles — particularly with regard to the protection of mother animals — were violated in the most egregious manner. A driven hunt targeting heavily pregnant animals is morally reprehensible in the highest degree and should also carry legal consequences.

As the representative body for wildlife and hunting in Vorarlberg, the Vorarlberg Hunters' Association cannot identify with such hunting practices and clearly distances itself from them.

We are now drawing consequences.

We condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms and formally distance ourselves from it. The conduct of those involved is entirely devoid of hunting ethics and reflects neither sportsmanlike behavior nor any respect for the animals. We will immediately initiate exclusion proceedings against any members of the Vorarlberg Hunters' Association who participate in such actions.

Regional Master of the Hunt Dr. Christof Germann.

Press

– Austrians are outraged by Swiss hunters

–A driven hunt targeting pregnant animals? Central Swiss hunters cause a scandal in Austria

– Hunters demand respect for wildlife

– Information from the Vorarlberg Forest Association

– Driven hunt targeting pregnant animals in Fontanella causes a stir

– Driven hunt in Fontanella: conflict of interest between hunters and foresters

– Outrage over wintertime driven hunt targeting pregnant wildlife in Vorarlberg

– Driven hunt in the Großwalsertal: animals chased through deep snow

– Breach of hunting ethics: hunters' association condemns driven hunt targeting pregnant wildlife

– Driven hunt: hunters' association seeks to expel leaseholder