Hunting in Germany

Germany lies in the center of Europe, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic in the East, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France, Luxemburg, Belgium and the Netherlands in the west, and Denmark in the north. The Baltic and North Sea coasts are flat and mostly open, and the center of the country is a mixture of woods and agricultural lands, with low, forested mountains rising in the south to foothills of the Alps. It enjoys moderate climate, with mild winters and cool to warmish summers. Germany is a federal republic consisting of sixteen member states (Bundesländer), with hunting seasons and regulations differing slightly between them.

Most hunting in Germany takes place from high seats. This is partly a necessary safety measure in a densely populated country, as a bullet fired from above is not likely to travel very far. A combination of stalking and calling is preferred for such popular hunts as spring roebuck and the red stag during the “roar”, and of course big driven hunts are an essential part of the hunting community. Although less widespread, German also has devoted communities of enthusiasts of hunting over bird dogs, driven bird hunts and waterfowl hunts; bowhunting, however, is not allowed.