Overview

• The Bavarian cabinet on September 9 approved key points for a comprehensive reform of the state hunting law and tasked the economics ministry with drafting legislation.
• Roe deer cull planning shifts to local stakeholders through a green/red district system, with opt-outs in green areas and stricter obligations in repeatedly red areas, guided by a triennial forest regeneration assessment next due in 2027.
• Hunting seasons would move earlier: roe bucks and schmalrehe from April 16, with bucks ending October 15 and schmalrehe, does and fawns running to January 15; fawns and does would open on September 1.
• Wolf and golden jackal will be included in Bavarian hunting law to enable management, though federal and EU protections prevail, and the state will urge Berlin to lower the wolf’s national protection status.
• Bund Naturschutz condemns the package as weakening forest conversion and small owners’ interests, while the plan also revises rules for open-space photovoltaic sites and clarifies legal grounds for fawn rescue.