On one of blogs there is a provocateur who constantly spreading info that hunting is completely prohibited in Switzerland.

I would appreciate if somebody from there could tell me what is real situation. As far as I know this is outright lie. Some restrictions, maybe, but total prohibition, I doon't think so.

Many thanks, Onty.

send a PM to 10,3x60r
he is Swiss and hunter and knows very well the situation. By my info Hunt is NOT closed in Switaerland.

Onty,

It’s amazing the rumours that circulate on the Internet.

I’m sure Mike (mho) or some of the other Swiss hunters here will step in with more information, but I can guarantee hunting is far from banned in all of Switzerland. If you search this forum you’ll find a number of posts and pictures of hunting in Graubunden and Valais.

As to whether there are any Cantons where hunting is banned, I’m not sure. E.g. there may not be much opportunity in Basel Stadt?

Here is a link to the Canton of Zurich Fishing and Hunting Administration - http://www.fjv.zh.ch/internet/bd/aln/fjv/de/home.html

Hope this helps knock down some of the misinformation being spread.


cheers,
stu

quote:

Originally posted by Onty:
On one of blogs there is a provocateur who constantly spreading info that hunting is completely prohibited in Switzerland.

As quoted above, the answer is emphatically: "No, hunting is definitely NOT completely prohibited in Switzerland".

If, however, the question is that of the title of this thread

quote:

Switzerland: is hunting prohibited in any canton?

Then the answer is: "Believe it or not, there is actually one canton (or federal state) in which hunting is not allowed for regular hunters!!" This lone outsider is the Canton of Geneva (one canton of out 24 cantons and 2 "half-cantons").

Geneva is a very urbanized canton, and apparently about 30 years ago (before I came to Switzerland), a plebiscite on this issue was held and accepted by the voters. This, as you can well imagine, much to joy of the anti hunting organizations.

But it would be a mistake to interpret this as if no hunting goes on in the canton of Geneva. What it means, is that ordinary hunters (like you and me) do not have the right to hunt in that canton. Rather, the hunting is done by paid employees of the state, who make sure that wild boar populations do not get out of hand etc etc, all the tasks normally entrusted to hunters.

For hunters in other cantons of Switzerland, this is completely incomprehensible. Not only does it mean, that Geneva must pay employees for services, for which all other cantons actually demand money - by selling hunting licences or leasing hunting areas. Secondly, the state "hunters" of Geneva do not have to observe many (or any?) of the rules and regulations limiting hunting in other cantons - e.g. use of night visison scopes for night shooting. But the most amazing thing of it all, is that the state "hunters" of Geneva are not required to pass the very strict hunting tests applied to all hunters in all the other cantons! So if anybody claims that "professional state hunters" do a better job than "hobby hunters", then one has to point out, that the socalled "professionals" are not educated to the same level as the "hobby hunters".

All in all, Geneva and hunting is a big mess and nobody really understands why this system is a good idea.

In the remainder of Switzerland, hunting is very much alive. As society gets more and more urban, we experience the same problems here with "antis" as do other countries. But in all cantons (apart from Geneva), there is a legal mandate for the hunters to ensure that game populations are kept healthy and regulated.

Here is a picture of an Ibex taken by a friend of mine in the canton of Valais (Vallis in German). Now isn't that some scenery...



- mike

Many thanks MHO! I just replied, stating that lie is the lie, no matter who is telling it and why.

As for the scenery, this is bit too much for mountain boy, living in almost completely flat area, no hunting. However, I hope that by the end of the year, I will be back for good on my beloved mountains, carrying my old sporter 98 I inherited from my father, and hunting wild boars with old friends.

Thanks MHO Your English is certainly better than my

X Onty in Graubünden surely the season 2010 hunting is ready!!!

Ibex Hunt 2006


....ohne Jäger ohne Wild (no Hunter no Game)

I kind of think I should not even comment here because we already have the firsthand word from our Swiss members on the subject. Thanks MHO and 10.3x60r.

I have been studying swiss hunting for a while now. For some reason as an American I look at hunting in Europe as very interesting and I enjoy learning about the differant game and especially the differant customs about hunting in the differant countries in western Europe.

Switzerland has peaked my interest lately for several reasons.

One it is a country mostly in the beautiful Alps and the Alps have been the greatest part of the six other countries I've hunted in Europe. I love those mountains.

Another reason is that I havent hunted there yet and I have been developing some real good conections there so I really want to check it out.

Last of all the Swiss really seem to be in tune with nature and what they have retained in wilderness like settings on the mountains. I belive there is even still some public land hunting in Switzerland for the local hunters much like the western U.S., That is pritty much unheard of in the rest of western Europe.

Heres a couple of vidios of hunting in Switzerland. I think this should help to dispell the notion that there is no hunting there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vPzA5fLaw0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvyO5u2hVs8

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:
Last of all the Swiss really seem to be in tune with nature and what they have retained in wilderness like settings on the mountains. I belive there is even still some public land hunting in Switzerland for the local hunters much like the western U.S., That is pritty much unheard of in the rest of western Europe.

That comes very close to describing the way hunting is organized in (most of) Switzerland's mountain cantons.

A "license" based system, allows holders of a valid hunting license to hunt any huntable ground in the entire canton. Where 10.3x60r hunts - canton of Graubünden and (possibly?) Ticino - this is the system in place.

It is obviously of great advantage to the hunters in these cantons, that they (more or less) can choose where to hunt as they please. Traditionally, groups of hunters settle on certain areas, so in reality it is not a free for all.

Typically, each year the "Fish & Game" administration assigns so many tags per hunter - e.g. 2 chamois and a red deer. The various cantons have very strict rules regarding what game and where it can be taken - e.g. a non-lactating female must be taken before a male etc.

Season within this system are typically shorter than in the cantons that have "lease based" hunting.

The non-mountainous cantons (and St Gallen) have a hunting system based on hunting leases. The canton is divided into hunting areas - typically following boundaries of local municipalities. Each area is then leased to a group of huntes - typically for a period of 10 years. The leases are often much lower in price than you would find in the remainder of (Germanic) Europe, but you have to contend with a larger group of hunters on the lease.

Each year, a management plan will be issued (by Fish & Game) for each lease, and the lease holders are responsible for fulfilling the plan. The plan will generally aim at maintaining game populations - in terms of numbers, age groups and sex distribution.

The hunting seasons in this system are quite a bit longer than in the license cantons - often practically year round, at least if you have wild boar in your area.

- mike

quote:

... Where 10.3x60r hunts - canton of Graubünden and (possibly?) Ticino - this is the system in place

Exactly I make Hunt in everybody two cantons, but I have had to repeat the examinations, one in Graubünden (1997) and one in Ticino (2003).

It needs to calculate around 1 year for examination.

quote:

Here is a picture of an Ibex taken by a friend of mine in the canton of Valais (Vallis in German). Now isn't that some scenery...



- mike

That is just fantastic.. One of my dream hunts for sure.

Amazing goat in some amazing country. There is just something about those Alpine goats that set them apart from all the other ibex of the world. They are by far the most beautiful, regal species there is.

On a side note, why is it that Alpine Ibex are SO much more expensive to hunt than say, Mid Asian, Altai, Gobi or Himalayan ibex??
I'd like to hear your (the Europeans) thoughts on this.

Thanks for sharing the pic, mho.

Originally posted by Scottyboy

quote:

why is it that Alpine Ibex are SO much more expensive to hunt

I think this can be answered as simply as supply and demand. There ar'nt a lot of huntable Apine ibex availble to foreign hunters.

Switzerland has the most Alpine Ibex but I think you would find more oppertunity as an American in Austria. Oppertunity comes at a price.

Spain is a good option if you would be satisfied with one of the variety's of the Spanish Ibex.

Akshooter is right, there are very few Alpine Ibex offered for commercial hunting. Populations are fairly limited, and most are hunted locally.

I know of a several cantons in Switzerland where Ibex hunting is a privilege that comes only with multiple years of hunting rights. I believe you have to have hunted the canton of Glarus for 30 years to get a tag for a female Ibex, and only then are you considered for a buck tag.

I would not be the least surprised if that was also the story behind this picture - old hunter with tag is helped by young hunter for recovery of animal shot...



You know the story of the Alpine Ibex?? They were extinct through illegal and market hunting. Only the Italian king (Victor Emmanuel?) had a population in a private hunting reserve in the Aosta Valley, where they were protected by draconian laws. A few were (illegally) "liberated" by the Swiss, and from this modest colony, the entire Alps were repopulated.

Here is a picture of an Alpine Ibex taken by the same hunter who took the one in Vallis (see above). This one was taken in his hunting lease in Vorarlberg in Austria. Some people have all the luck... I like the picture with the family.



- mike

In Graubünden for frist Ibex Hunt: I make 5 season normal Hunt permit, and for the second Ibex Hunt you making stop for other 10 y.

This Season 2010 I have one permit (my frist Ibex permit) for one Goat and one Male (3y).

The hunt sesaon start am 04.10.2010.

Question.. So how did that recent poster "Mexicanhunter" take such a great billy at a reasonable cost(in Alpine ibex terms) in Switzerland for 13K, if I recall correctly??

It sounds like it's even very difficult for locals!
Thanks for the education, gents. I am tottally unfamiliar to European hunt structures and costs.

hello

yes i get a alpine ibex from the canton du valais, on october 18, that was the best hunt that ever had

VIDEO
http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mov00875.mp4




By mexicanhunter at 2009-08-21


best regards

I was skiing in Zermatt (I think) in 1988 and saw Ibex on the rock faces around the ski fields.

There is no way this old fat hunter would be able to climb up after them. It is definantly a game for young men.

Well done fellas. (Thumbs Up)

That's that one, Fan!!

What a wonderful billy and a fantastic photo!!

WOW!

The male is not a difficulty hunt the young is littel stupid and funny....the goat is very sospect respect the male look: