Hunters in the Saale-Orla district defend themselves against the ban on night hunting!

Hunters in the Saale-Orla district defend themselves against the ban on night hunting!

There is currently a feeling of frustration among hunters in the Saale-Orla district. A recently enacted ban on night hunting is causing anger among hunters who find the measure counterproductive. According to information from Pirsch.de, those responsible in the hunting advisory board had discussed the general decree, but no vote took place. The hunters are convinced that the ban makes their work significantly more difficult and drives wild animals into thickets, which in turn leads to increased browsing and problems with hunting.

Stefan Hertzsch, the head of the Gahma conservancy, expressed sharp criticism of this decision and described it as a “professional failure”. A main concern for hunters is animal protection, especially in the dark, as mother animals cannot be adequately protected here. In the spring, when sheep are lambing, distinguishing between pregnant and non-pregnant animals becomes even more difficult, increasing the risk of mis-killing. There is a particular fear that rams in particular will be killed at night, which is not helpful for the sustainable management of mouflon populations.

Increasing wild populations

Another problem that concerns hunters is the increasing population of mouflon. The conservancy plans to deplete the population this year and expects a range of 550 to 600 mouflons, which represents an astonishing increase of over 100 percent compared to five years ago. In addition, the Thuringian State Hunting Association and the mouflon interest group express concerns about the so-called “special general decree”. They see these as unsuitable for solving the problems of large pack formation. The Presidium of the State Hunting Association also warns that the risk of game damage in the forest is increasing due to the increased concern for mouflons.

The hunters advocate better handling of existing regulations and controls in cooperation with the hunting authorities and other conservation communities in order to sustainably solve the problems in the region. Instead of new banned measures that only cause further difficulties, hunters want a well-founded discussion and common solutions.

The issue of wildlife management is also relevant in other regions, such as Pierce County, Washington. The population here has grown significantly and the challenges in dealing with nature are increasing. Extensive information about the region and its history can be found on the Wikipedia page Pierce County be read. These reports make it clear that the responsible use of natural resources can not only improve nature, but also people's quality of life.

An appropriate strategy for wildlife crossing is therefore essential – both in Saxony and in Washington. It is important to learn from the mistakes of the past in order to secure a sustainable future for people and animals. The dialogue between hunters and the authorities must finally be put on a constructive basis so that misunderstandings and discontent are a thing of the past.