Poaching - Hiker in Southwest - Dark figure high
In the Southwest, there are regular poachers on the move, but they usually remain undetected. "There are always such cases, year after year," says René Greiner from the Hunting Association. The Hunting Association does not have precise statistics on this, but in Greiner's estimation, the dark figure is high. The people engaging in poaching illegally were sometimes in possession of non-legal weapons or worked with prohibited traps and snares in Germany. They mostly targeted roe deer or, if they used traps, smaller animals like rabbits.
Regarding the motives of poachers, one can only speculate. Poachers are often not caught. Poachers might report finding a dead animal or a trap to the police during their regular patrols through their territory. "Such reports usually end up in the sand," said Greiner. Sometimes, gunshots are heard in a territory, which the responsible poacher cannot identify. "We always know exactly who is out hunting from us," said Greiner.
No statistics on Poaching
The Ministry of Agriculture does not conduct any statistics on poaching. A spokesperson cited a statistic from the Federal Criminal Office, according to which approximately 1,140 cases of poaching were recorded nationwide in 2023. For the Southwest, there were 118 such cases, according to the Landeskriminalamt (LKA), which is the same number as the previous year. Registered cases of poaching of fish were more frequent, according to LKA statistics: In the previous year, 170 such offenses were reported, and in 2022, there were 145.
Commercial Poachers
Commercial poachers were likely among the offenders, as Greiner stated. The sale of wild meat from a single roe deer could yield between 100 and 170 Euro. "That adds up," said Greiner. The illegal marketing of wild boars, which could weigh several kilograms, could also be a profitable business.
Criminal Energy among the Offenders
One can assume that the offenders had a lot of criminal energy. "Anyone encountering a poacher should be on their guard and call the police," said Greiner. Such encounters were reported from the hunting community from time to time. Unfortunately, poachers also cause a lot of animal suffering when they do not hunt the animals humanely or leave them in traps for days. "That's something a hunter doesn't want," said Greiner.
Poaching is punishable by law. The offenders can be fined or sentenced to prison.
- In the Southwest of Germany, where hiking is popular, hikers occasionally stumble upon poachers but often fail to report them due to fear or uncertainty.
- Rene Greiner, from the Hunting Association in Baden-Württemberg, suggests that the true number of poaching incidents in LKA's jurisdiction might be significantly higher than reported.
- Poachers in the region often use prohibited weapons or traps for hunting roe deer and smaller animals like rabbits, which is a criminal offense in Germany.
- Despite the efforts of the police and the Hunting Association, cases of commercial poaching continue to surface in the Southwest, with individuals selling wild meat or boar meat illegally for profit.
- The illegal hunting of animals often leads to unnecessary suffering, as some poachers neglect to practice humane hunting methods or leave animals trapped for extended periods.
- Responsible hikers and hunters in Germany are encouraged to report any suspected poaching activities to local authorities, as such acts are not only illegal but also contribute to animal cruelty and are detrimental to the ecosystem.
