Das Jagdmagazin mit Weitblick

Two hunters in Austria’s Gail Valley suddenly find themselves just 20 meters from a large brown bear. The animal keeps coming, rises onto its hind legs, and the hunters ready their rifles. Then, at the last moment, the bear turns away. How close did the encounter come to disaster — and when would shooting a protected bear in Austria be legally justified as self-defense?

Wild boar are pushing deeper into Austria’s alpine country. While hogs have long been a familiar part of the hunting landscape in Germany and Hungary, their growing presence in the Alps is creating a different kind of conflict. Entire sounders are rooting up high-elevation pastures in search of roots, tubers, insect larvae, and other food hidden beneath the sod—sometimes leaving large sections of grazing land looking as if they had been worked over with a plow.

How quickly do chamois really age — and what role does the mountain itself play? A new study of more than 31,000 harvested chamois suggests that limestone, gneiss, schist, and other rock types can influence vegetation, tooth wear, and ultimately the age at which chamois begin to decline physically. For hunters, the findings offer fascinating new insights into age, body mass, and harvest management.

The roe deer rut is one of the most exciting times of the hunting season. But what does it really take to call in a mature roe buck? In the Austrian Alps, success depends on far more than mastering contact squeaks, pursuit calls, or distress calls. Mountain thermals, stand selection, timing, and patience often make the difference between watching a buck disappear—or bringing him into range. Shot & Stillness explains the proven strategies behind successful mountain roe deer ca

Alpine ibex around Grossglockner captivate hunters, mountaineers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. But behind the thriving population in Austria’s High Tauern Mountains lies one of the country’s most sophisticated wildlife management programs. Schuss & Stille takes a closer look at why year-round monitoring, GPS telemetry, scientific research, and cross-border cooperation are essential to securing the future of the Alpine ibex.

Why do roe bucks suddenly seem to disappear in July? Every summer, hunters notice familiar bucks vanishing almost overnight from the meadows and feeding areas they had used for weeks. But this isn’t random behavior. Shot & Stillness explores how heat, hormones, human disturbance, and the approaching rut reshape roe deer behavior—and how hunters can adapt to stay one step ahead.

Fawns hidden in tall grass, red deer calves roaming sunlit alpine meadows, and fox pups playing outside their dens — June is arguably the most beautiful time of year for wildlife watchers. For many hunters, this is when the quieter side of the sporting tradition begins. Instead of pursuing game, they turn their attention to the next generation of deer, foxes, and other wildlife, witnessing those rare and magical moments when the woods become nature’s nursery.

Alpine farming and hunting have been intertwined for centuries. Open mountain pastures provide essential habitat for chamois, roe deer, marmots, and countless other wildlife species. But what happens when these landscapes are no longer grazed? Discover why alpine farmers are among the most important stewards of the mountain environment—and why hunters benefit directly from their work.

African Swine Fever is closing in on Austria’s borders, wild boar are expanding into the alpine pastures of Carinthia, and thermal imaging technology is changing the game. Wild boar hunting has evolved dramatically in recent years. Eric Leitner, Wild Boar Coordinator for the Carinthian Hunters Association, reveals the ten most common mistakes hunters make—and explains why thermal and night vision optics have become essential tools for ethical and effective wild boar managemen

Forest roads are becoming a growing source of conflict between hunters, mountain bikers, hikers, and landowners. As human activity in the mountains continues to increase, the remaining refuges for wildlife are steadily shrinking. Why the debate over forest roads is about far more than access rights—and why, in the end, nature may be paying the highest price.

Earlier springs, drier summers, and increasingly frequent heat waves are reshaping Austria’s natural landscapes. But what does climate change mean for roe deer? Wildlife biologists and hunters are already observing changes in behavior, habitat use, and perhaps even antler development. This article explores how Europe’s most widespread deer species is adapting to a rapidly changing world.

Hunters in Austria’s Carinthia region are working to bring white storks back to the Krappfeld valley. Together with local craftsmen, they built a massive artificial nesting platform in Althofen to create safe breeding habitat for the rare migratory birds — showing how modern hunting often goes far beyond game and into real wildlife conservation.

For nearly 20 years, an old brown bear has roamed the forests between Tarvisio, Austria, and Slovenia. Italian wildlife researchers have tracked the legendary mountain wanderer for years, while hunters from the Gail Valley know the massive bear well from countless trail camera photos. His story is a powerful reminder that true wilderness still exists deep in the Alps.

Daylight saving time doesn’t just bring longer days in spring—it shifts a deadly window onto Austria’s roads. While humans move the clock forward, wildlife stays on its natural rhythm. Right when commuters hit the gas, deer, hares, and badgers are crossing. The result: thousands of dead animals, hundreds of injured people—and hunters pushed into high-pressure, no-margin situations.

There are few wild animals in Europe that polarize opinion as sharply as the wolf. To some, it is the ultimate symbol of wilderness reclaiming lost ground. To others, it represents a hard, daily conflict for alpine farming and grazing operations – and increasingly a topic that cuts straight to the core of hunting identity itself: Are we managing a population – or are we losing control of the debate?

Over the past few years, the golden jackal (Canis aureus) has become a fixture in the headlines of Europe’s conservation and hunting media. What was once dismissed as a biological curiosity at the continent’s fringes has evolved into one of the most remarkable wildlife expansions of our time. The species is steadily pushing north, west, and south—moving through dense forests, crossing vast agricultural plains, and even edging into suburban and urban environments.