Hagen: 66-year-old hobby hunter killed during wild boar hunt

According to initial investigations, the Hagen resident was sitting at the edge of the forest in Dahl at around 9 p.m., observing wild boar during a hobby hunting outing.

Shot discharged unintentionally

A shot discharged unintentionally from his repeating rifle, fatally injuring the 66-year-old.

Based on the current state of knowledge, there is no indication of third-party involvement. More on Crime in the context of hobby hunting.

An acquaintance of the Hagen resident, who was also present in the hunting area, found the deceased and alerted the police.

The criminal investigation department has taken over further investigations. The Firearm fatalities in Switzerland also highlight the dangers posed by hobby hunting.

In the view of IG Wild beim Wild, hobby hunters should be required to undergo annual medical-psychological fitness assessments modelled on the Dutch system, as well as a binding upper age limit. The largest age group among hobby hunters today is 65+. Within this group, age-related limitations such as declining visual acuity, slowed reaction times, lapses in concentration and cognitive deficits increase significantly from a statistical standpoint. At the same time, accident analyses show that the number of serious hunting accidents involving injured persons and fatalities rises significantly from middle age onwards.

The regular reports of hunting accidents, fatal errors and the misuse of hunting weapons highlight a structural problem. The private ownership and use of lethal firearms for recreational purposes is largely exempt from ongoing oversight. From the perspective of IG Wild beim Wild, this is no longer justifiable. A practice based on voluntary killing that simultaneously generates considerable risks for people and animals is losing its social legitimacy.

Hobby hunting is furthermore based on speciesism. Speciesism describes the systematic devaluation of non-human animals solely on the basis of their species membership. It is comparable to racism or sexism and can be justified neither culturally nor ethically. Tradition does not replace moral scrutiny.

Critical examination is particularly indispensable in the field of hobby hunting. Few other fields are so characterised by euphemistic narratives, half-truths and deliberate disinformation. Where violence is normalised, narratives frequently serve the purpose of justification. Transparency, verifiable facts and an open public debate are therefore essential.