Neustadt shines: New hunting school attracts numerous guests!

Neustadt shines: New hunting school attracts numerous guests!

Kurt and Anke Plag's hunting school has opened a new location in the heart of Neustadt. After moving from Herschdorf, the Plags were enthusiastic about the response at the inauguration ceremony. Numerous guests, including the region's most prominent representative, Karl-Heinz Möller, celebrated this step into a promising future with them. Marcel Neitzke, the Plags' son-in-law, emphasized how important training in hunting schools is for hunters. Ultimately, the knowledge imparted here is the key to obtaining the coveted hunting license.

This importance is becoming increasingly clear not only locally, but also nationwide. Over the last three decades, the number of hunting license holders in Germany has increased by a whopping 36 percent, which corresponds to over 435,930 people who want to recapture a piece of nature. It is also exciting that seven out of ten hunters are members of a hunting association. These associations play a central role when it comes to training and testing new hunters jagdverband.de reported.

A look at the hunter tests

There are clear rules for all aspiring hunters: The minimum age for the hunter exam is 16 years. After passing the test, young hunters can even acquire a youth hunting license, although this only allows hunting when accompanied by an experienced adult. In contrast, young people are not allowed to take part in social hunts. In order to optimally prepare for the exam, many district hunting associations offer preparatory courses that often last six months and include at least 120 hours of theory and practice.

In 2024, an impressive 21,104 people in Germany took the state hunter examination, which is the third highest number in the last 75 years. Most aspiring hunters were in Lower Saxony - over 5,400 participants - followed by Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Such numbers are not only a sign of the increasing interest in hunting, but also of the population's ongoing enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.

Contents of the training and examination

The topics of hunting training are diverse. Wildlife biology, hunting practice, weapons science and nature conservation are just some of the areas covered. In addition, the financial aspects should not be neglected - the average cost of hunter training is around 2,200 euros. The examinees have to take a multi-part examination that includes written as well as oral and practical sections. But there are also challenges: around 21 percent of examinees fail in the first attempt, a rate that is by no means negligible.

Learning how to use hunting weapons safely is just as important as knowing the laws surrounding hunting and nature conservation. Incorrect handling can quickly lead to failing the exam. It is all the more important that these hunting schools like those run by Kurt and Anke Plag pass on their in-depth knowledge and train the next generation of hunters - because in this area too, the following applies: well trained is half the battle.

Overall, it can be said that hunting not only has a tradition, but also a future. With solid training in the new premises in Neustadt, many young hunters are optimally prepared for their exams and thus actively contribute to protecting and caring for our nature. This shows once again: Hunting is a piece of home, and we all care deeply about it.