Proportion of female hunters is growing - focus on wolves

More and more women are going hunting in Saxony. There are currently around 14,500 people in possession of a valid hunting license, 18 percent of whom are women, as announced by the State Hunting Association at the 37th State Hunters' Day in Großschirma (Central Saxony district) on Saturday. In 2024, the proportion of female hunters was still eleven percent.

Minister: Hunting more than a hobby - partner of the forest

The voluntary commitment of hunters is essential for the care and maintenance of game populations in fields and forests, said Saxony's Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch when asked. "Hunting is much more than a hobby, our hunters are competent partners of the forest and forest owners," said the CDU politician, who was also expected to attend the state hunters' conference.

A balance between game stocks and forest regeneration is crucial for the success of the necessary forest conversion, he continued. "This means that the reforestation of damaged areas can positively support hunting," said the Environment Minister. The trusting and good cooperation between the hunting association, the hunting districts and Sachsenforst is therefore an important pillar for the development of game.

Wolf problem a topic

The state hunters' conference will also address how to deal with the wolf. At the beginning of March, the Bundestag decided to make it easier to shoot wolves in order to protect grazing animals and, with the votes of the black-red coalition and the AfD, included the animal in hunting law. This makes it easier to kill so-called problem wolves - for example, if they have climbed fences and killed sheep. However, after the Bundestag, the Bundesrat must also give its approval before the new regulation can come into force.

More than 1,600 wolves counted nationwide

According to the authorities, more than 1,600 wolves were recently counted in Germany alone - mainly in the area from Lower Saxony to Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg to Saxony.

According to the Saxon Sheep and Goat Breeders' Association, 210 cases of damage were reported last year. 527 animals were affected, 416 were killed.

Minister: Balance between species protection and animal husbandry

The wolf is now a normal part of the animal world in many places, explained von Breitenbuch. "That's why it's right that the population can be regulated by hunting law in future, just like other game species." Saxony is one of the federal states with the most wolves and by including the wolf in federal hunting law, a balance can be struck between species protection and animal husbandry.

"For us, it is crucial that wolves can be removed quickly, with legal certainty and as easily as possible. The wolf population must be regulated in such a way that the damage is significantly reduced in the long term." This is a national task, which is why Saxony is campaigning for the federal government to set the necessary uniform standards and framework conditions for future wolf management throughout Germany.