Press release: 12.341-181/20

Vienna, 2020-10-12 – In the hunting year 2019/2020, the total number of game shot amounted to 838 000, as Statistics Austria reports. Compared to the previous season, this represents an increase of 13.8%. Thereof, the number of furred game shot rose by 12.5% to 691 000 and the number of game birds shot by 20.3% to 147 000.

Among furred game, 407 000 head hoofed game (+2.8%) and 284 000 head other haired game (+30.1%) were shot. Within hoofed game, 278 000 roe deer (-2.3%), 57 500 red deer (+4.6%), 47 300 wild boars (+54.7%) and 19 100 chamois (-7.7%) were hunted down, while mostly hares (142 000; +39.4%) and foxes (69 200; +12.7%) were shot within other haired game.

Within game birds, a marked increase of pheasants shot (74 800 head; +25.4%) was recorded in comparison to the previous season. Beyond that, the shooting of wild ducks (48 300 head; +23.3%), wild pigeons (14 900 head; +4.6%), partridges (2 900 head; +25.4%) and snipes (2 200 head; +10.7%) rose noticeably, too. On the other hand, a relatively strong decrease was reported for wild geese (1 500 head; -41.0%).

Game casualties slightly increased

Game may suffer losses due to road traffic, unfavourable weather conditions or diseases. For the hunting year 2019/2020, 138 000 losses of all kinds were reported (+3.5% compared to 2018/2019). Of these, 80 700 wild animals (+6.9%) fell victim to road traffic alone, including among others 41 500 head roe deer (+1.5%), 23 500 hares (+19.1%) and 6 300 pheasants (-0.9%).

Slightly less annual hunting permits

With a total of 131 000, the number of valid annual permits for game hunting slightly decreased (-0.5%). Furthermore, 12 000 guest hunting permits (-4.5%) were released.

For more detailed results and further information concerning hunting statistics please refer to our website.

Information on methods, definitions: Hunting in Austria is regulated by legislation at federal province level, defining the "hunting year", which varies from region to region. In Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg and Vienna it corresponds to the calendar year, while the hunting year in Burgenland lasts from 1 February to 31 January and in the remaining four federal provinces from 1 April to 31 March. 
Hoofed game shot (except wild boars) is negotiated and defined territory-related between the district authorities concerned, hunting provision or hunting holder as well as a body representing the interests of the hunters. This is issued by the ordinance of the federal provinces. For all other game species, a hunting plan is generated; however, it is not under any legal regulation. Furthermore, hunting seasons and closed seasons are prescribed. 
Tasks and goals of the game law focus in particular on game keeping, the hunting and biotope protection as well as sustainable utilisation of wildlife, all in all on an improvement of the quality of life respectively the living conditions of diverse wildlife species. Additionally, stocks regarded as excessive – in view of agricultural and forestry interests – are reduced by hunting.

For further inquiries please contact Directorate Spatial Statistics, Statistics Austria:  
Franz NEUMANN, Tel. +43 (1) 71128-7120 resp. franz.neumann@statistik.gv.at and 
Martin LIPP, Tel. +43 (1) 71128-7305 resp. martin.lipp@statistik.gv.at

Media owner, producer and publisher: 
STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Federal Institution under Public Law 
1110 Vienna, Austria, Guglgasse 13, Tel.: +43 (1) 71128-7777 
presse@statistik.gv.at  
© STATISTICS AUSTRIA

©  STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Last Changed 12.10.2020

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