If you want to be a hunter in Germany, you have to acquire intensive knowledge. There are, for example, very strict rules concerning the use of firearms in order to avoid accidents and to ensure a quick death of the game in compliance with fair hunting principles.
To acquire a hunting licence, you not only need extensive knowledge about the huntable game, weapon handling, the use of hunting dogs or the exploitation of the hunted game. Also required is knowledge of agriculture and forestry, game keeping, nature conservation, the laws and ethics of hunting as well as common hunting signals. Hunters who want to hunt with birds of prey also need a hunting licence.
Hunting instruction courses are offered by the hunting association or private hunting schools. After passing an official examination, "junior hunters" may acquire hunting weapons and their first hunting licence. This must be renewed after one year. Those who do not have their own hunting ground can lease one or hope for invitations from forest officials and hunting ground owners.
Illustration:
Junior hunters with instructors during a lesson on the topic of "Wild animals – furred game", Hunting School Northeim.
Photo: Christian Mühlhausen, Landpixel