Tyrolean Hunters' Association keeps its word - cruelty to animals has consequences - Summary

The Tyrolean Hunters' Association decides - the case is penalised with the highest administrative fine

How State Hunting Master Anton Larcher already reported earlier in the media, the Tyrolean Hunters' Association (TJV) has now honoured two of the three participants with a Strict reprimandso his highest fine which automatically means that the hunting licence is revoked. One of these is the leaseholder himself.

For how long the Hunting licence revoked must first be District administrative authority decide. This decision is not legally binding. The leaseholder intends to appeal against it. Against the Russian hunting guest determines the Innsbruck public prosecutor's office incidentally, separately for cruelty to animals. Further proceedings against Tyrolean hunters who can be seen on the video are to follow in the coming week.

Another hunter was acquitted because it was proven that he had not been in the vicinity.

Current message - Further information on the findings of the Disciplinary Commission of the Tyrolean Hunters' Association of 3 December 2013 - Leutsch chamois hunting case

In principle, Larcher strives for a Amendment of the Tyrolean Hunting Act which creates a new - more severe - penalty option: "We are in contact with the legislator and are suggesting a "Severe reprimand with particularly serious guilt" to be introduced. This could Penalties with a Prolonged withdrawal of the hunting licence be imposed. So far, the maximum penalty has been three years."

Larcher is also striving for a Intensification of hunter education  in the areas of Hunting ethics and hunting morals "Incidents like the one in Leutasch cause immense damage to the hunting community and must be prevented in the future or penalised with the full force of the law."

"For us, the matter is now closed," says LJM Anton Larcher

"For us, the matter is now closed. The Judgement but is still not legally binding, because the defendants are appealing," said Anton Larcher. A Strict reprimand means revocation of the hunting licence in Tyrol between one and three years, as well as publication of the incidents with names and full details in the association's magazine.

According to Larcher, he also called on the authorities, to review the hunting lease. There have been repeated offences against the Hunting Act here. His complaint to the public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck for cruelty to animals is still pending. The TJV is now campaigning for a tightening of disciplinary penalties, as well as More hunting ethics in training in.

Review and trigger of the hunting scandal

A Dutch eyewitness was filming a very unusual behaviour one Group of hunters shooting a chamois in Tyrol and posted the video online.

The original video caused horror and Outrage under many people, hunters and hunting organisations:

The video shows how a presumably Russian hunting guest a wriggling chamois that he had previously taken ill. (wounded) shot brutally drags the chamois downhill over sharp stones, leaving a long trail of blood in its wake. Only another hunter, who arrives a few minutes later, puts the chamois out of its misery.

This had happened Hunting drama on 15 August 2013 in a hunting ground belonging to the "Agrargemeinschaft Telfser Alpen" on the Scharnitzjoch in the Tyrolean municipality of Leutasch near Seefeld. The very next day, a German holidaymaker, who had also witnessed the incident, reported it to the police in Seefeld, who then launched an investigation into the incident. Suspicion of cruelty to animals recorded.

At the time, State Hunting Master Anton Larcher said unequivocally: "We will do everything we can to ensure that he is never allowed to hunt with us again".

ORF report with interview of LJM Anton Larcher (time 1:55)

At the time, the Tyrolean state master hunter spoke of a "Nightmare" and a enormous damage to the image of hunters. "He has taken legal action against the stalking guide and the responsible hunting tenant from Leutasch, who the The barbarity of their hunting guest have watched, a Disciplinary proceedings and reported them to the police." Both were to be expelled from the hunting organisation, Larcher said at the time.