Game enclosures; notification and application for a hunting permit

Game enclosures are completely enclosed areas on which predominantly wild animals that are subject to hunting rights are kept permanently or temporarily or are kept for hunting purposes.

The district administrative authority must be notified of the construction, expansion and operation of game enclosures at least one month in advance, and of commercial enclosure management four weeks before the start of operations.

Enclosures in which game is kept for hunting purposes require a permit under hunting law; for other game enclosures, this applies from a minimum size of 10 ha. The permit is issued by the district administrative authority as the lower hunting authority.

Game enclosures in which hoofed game is kept for hunting purposes and used for hunting activities can be recognized as game parks. The term "game park" may only be used for such recognized game enclosures. The higher hunting authority (= government) is responsible for recognizing game enclosures as game parks.

In particular, the permit may only be granted if

1. the game enclosure does not unreasonably restrict the habitat of the game species outside the enclosure,
2. the practice of hunting is not significantly impaired and
3. the game enclosure is secured in such a way that the animals cannot escape.

Furthermore, the construction of game enclosures in which game is kept for hunting purposes may only be approved if they are at least the size of a private hunting ground and their areas are owned by one person or a community of persons.

In addition, nature conservation and, where applicable, animal welfare requirements must be observed.

Administrative court action