Zurich: First Canton to Ban Alcohol for Hobby Hunters

A good day for foxes, deer, and other wildlife: the Zurich cantonal council passed a new hunting law on Monday in its first reading.

It puts an end to fox earth hunting, restricts driven hunts, enables wildlife rest zones, and bans hobby hunters from consuming alcohol.

In the neighbouring canton of Thurgau, earth hunting has already been banned for three years. Now Zurich wants to follow suit. The cantonal council decided in its first reading to prohibit this controversial form of hunting. In earth hunting, dogs are sent into fox or badger burrows to drive the animals out into the open, directly into the sights of hobby hunters.

The ban on this controversial form of hunting was uncontested on Monday. The restriction of driven hunting also received broad support. Driven hunting, also known as a battue, is primarily used to cull wild boar populations. In this method, the boars are startled with noise and driven toward the hobby hunters.

Dogs on Leads

The building directorate should in future be able to limit the number of such events. The directorate, under Green building director Martin Neukom, is also to have a say in the number of hobby hunters, beaters, and dogs. The new law will also completely ban hunting of endangered species such as the brown hare and woodcock.

To avoid disturbing young wildlife, a lead requirement for dogs in forests and at forest edges is to be introduced in spring. Such a lead requirement is already in place in the cantons of Aargau, Lucerne, and Schaffhausen.

The new hunting law will also enshrine wildlife rest zones. These zones may then be temporarily closed to human forest users such as mountain bikers or orienteers. Those who enter regardless may be fined. The building directorate will also be able to intervene when wildlife corridors are obstructed, for example by fences.

According to the wishes of the Zurich Environmental Alliance, hobby hunters are now also expected to help with nature conservation.

Those who drink lose their licence

The days of warming up with a Kafi Lutz while waiting for game will soon be over for hobby hunters: anyone who hunts should only be permitted to do so in a sober state.

Anyone who goes hunting while intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or medication should lose their licence, the council decided. Members of the council from left to right agreed that only sober individuals should be permitted to handle firearms.

In addition, medical-psychological assessments will be required for hobby hunters — modeled on the Netherlands — as well as an upper age limit. 

IG Wild beim Wild

Can foreigners become game warden supervisors?

The SVP drew the line at the motion that would allow a foreign national with a permanent residence permit to take on the role of game warden supervisor. They threatened to reject the law should this motion be passed, arguing that it constitutes a sovereign function. «No one who is not a Swiss citizen can enforce a Swiss right or law», explained Ueli Bamert (SVP, Zurich).

In concrete terms, this primarily concerns Germans or Austrians who have a connection to hunting, explained WAK President Bloch. And Jasmin Pokerschnig (Greens, Zurich) pointed to the other requirements that must be met: a good reputation, a Zurich hunting licence, and passing the relevant examination. «Why don’t you leave your district», she urged. «The point is to find the best person for this role.»

In the end, the vote was tied at 82 to 82 — partly because the EVP voted with the center-right for once. Council President Roman Schmid (SVP, Opfikon) cast the deciding vote. The result: Only Swiss citizens may take on the role of game warden supervisor.

All in all, the new law incorporates a whole range of animal welfare and ecological concerns. «Not all hunters will be pleased with the new law», said GLP cantonal councillor Melissa Näf (Bassersdorf). In particular, the more traditionally minded among them may struggle to accept it.

The majority of the council was of the opinion that the hunting law from 1929 urgently needed to be updated to reflect modern times. Although the existing law had been partially revised several times, it is nevertheless outdated today, particularly with regard to wildlife protection. The second reading with final vote will take place in four weeks.

These are the most important additional rules in the new hunting law:

• Earth dog hunting, long criticized by animal welfare organizations, will be banned. This practice involves sending dogs into fox or badger burrows to drive the animals out into the open.
• The responsible authority of the Directorate of Construction will now be able to restrict the number of driven hunts — which also include battue hunts — in order to keep disruption in the forest to a minimum.
• The protection of habitat is explicitly mentioned, with the Directorate of Construction designating cantonal wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife corridors. It may also designate temporary wildlife quiet zones for specific areas. Athletes and recreational visitors may not enter these areas temporarily.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash in and at the edge of forests from the beginning of April to the end of July.
• Authorized hunters may shoot dogs caught poaching if the directorate has previously issued a written warning to the owner. They may also shoot feral cats found in forests or nature reserves more than 300 meters from the nearest residential or farm building. Building Director Martin Neukom (Greens) explained that experience has shown this will be necessary only extremely rarely. Over the past ten years, it has occurred approximately five times.
• Hunting territories will no longer be auctioned off, but allocated at a fixed price.
• The initial and continuing education of hunters will be given even greater emphasis.