Das Jagdmagazin mit Weitblick

African swine fever has not yet reached Austria—but it is moving closer. The nearest confirmed case in wild boar was recently reported just around 100 kilometers from the Austrian border. For hunters, that means greater responsibility: report carcasses, clean and disinfect equipment, and take extra precautions when hunting abroad.

Ticks are moving higher into Austria’s mountains — and hunters are following them. Once considered a lowland problem, the castor bean tick is now being found above 1,500 meters. Milder temperatures and wildlife hosts are pushing its range uphill, bringing Lyme disease and TBE into places where mountain hunters once felt safe.

With the turn of the year, a quiet yet consequential change has taken place at the top of Austria’s national hunting organization. As of January 1, 2026, Anton Larcher has taken over the rotating presidency of the Conference of State Hunting Commissioners—sending a clear signal about where Austrian hunting is headed. The future, Larcher says, rests on solid knowledge, open dialogue, and a deep sense of responsibility toward wildlife, habitat, and society at large.