When Hunters Sing, Hunting Traditions Live On
3,400 miles, 31 hunting gatherings, and seven new singers: When the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir was on the verge of singing its final song, chairman Ferdinand Kinzel refused to let a cherished hunting tradition disappear. Through extraordinary dedication, he helped preserve an important part of Austria’s hunting heritage. Shot & Stillness spoke with Kinzel and choir director Horst Moser about the future of the choir, the importance of hunting traditions, and why singing together means far more than simply making music.
There are moments in a hunter’s life that stay with you forever. Your first buck. An unexpected encounter with wildlife at daybreak. The silence following a successful shot. Or that special moment after a group hunt, when hunting horns sound and hunters gather to honor the game. All of these moments are part of hunting. And so is music.
In Carinthia, a province in southern Austria, music holds a particularly special place in hunting culture. Hunting horns have long been part of the tradition, but so has singing. The traditional Carinthian folk song expresses a deep connection to the land, a sense of community, and the simple joy of life. When that musical heritage meets the hunting tradition, something remarkable happens.
Der Chor der Kärntner Jägerschaft verkörpert diese Verbindung seit mehr als einem Vierteljahrhundert. Seine Sänger sind Jäger, die ihre Leidenschaft für das Weidwerk mit der Freude am gemeinsamen Gesang verbinden. Männer, die wissen, was es bedeutet, frühmorgens im Revier unterwegs zu sein, Verantwortung für Wild und Lebensraum zu übernehmen und Traditionen zu bewahren.
For more than a quarter of a century, the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir has embodied that connection. Its members share two passions: hunting and singing. These are men who know what it means to head into the woods before sunrise, take responsibility for wildlife and its habitat, and preserve traditions passed down through generations. But not long ago, the music almost stopped. The singers were getting older, and younger members weren't stepping forward. About two years ago, the choir was even facing the possibility of disbanding. That it survived is largely thanks to one man: Ferdinand Kinzel. The dedicated chairman got behind the wheel and set out across Carinthia in search of new voices. His journey took him more than 3,400 miles, visiting hunting gatherings, wildlife management meetings, and young hunters.
Shot & Stillness spoke with Kinzel and longtime choir director Horst Moser about this remarkable rescue effort, the power of music to bring people together, and why keeping hunting traditions alive matters for the future of hunting itself.
A Choir That Almost Lost Its Voice
The story of the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir began in 1999. It was founded on the initiative of Kurt Puck, who at the time served as deputy head of the Carinthian Hunters’ Association and district hunting master of St. Veit. His guiding principle was simple yet timeless: “Find joy in hunting, purity in song, and remain faithful to your homeland throughout your life.”
Those words capture what has united the choir's members for more than 25 years: a passion for hunting, a love of music, and a strong connection to their homeland.
Under the musical direction of Horst Moser, the choir developed a reputation that extended far beyond Carinthia. Its singers performed at hunting events, St. Hubertus services, and concerts. They provided music for ceremonial occasions and represented the Carinthian hunting community well beyond Austria's borders.
Among their notable appearances were performances at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the opening of the prestigious Hunters’ Ball at Vienna's Hofburg Palace, and concerts in South Tyrol and the Czech Republic. The choir also performed at Vienna City Hall and the Festspielhaus St. Pölten.
But time eventually caught up with the group. Members grew older. Some retired from singing, while fewer young hunters showed an interest in joining. About two years ago, the choir faced a serious question: Was it time to call it quits? For Ferdinand Kinzel, the answer was clear. Absolutely not.
Ferdinand Kinzel: 5.000 Km to Save a Hunting Tradition
Spend a few minutes talking with Ferdinand Kinzel, and one thing becomes obvious: He's not the kind of man who accepts a position simply to have his name on a committee. He's a passionate hunter who genuinely cares about preserving the traditions of the sport.
When the choir's future hung in the balance, he remembered a promise. “Former district hunting master Kurt Puck always told me, ‘Dear Ferdinand, make sure the choir continues,’” Kinzel recalls in his conversation with Shot & Stillness. He took that responsibility seriously.
nstead of sitting around hoping things would improve, Kinzel climbed into his car and started traveling across Carinthia. From one hunting district to another. From one annual wildlife management gathering to the next. He attended hunting events, talked with local hunting officials, approached young hunters, and spoke with experienced outdoorsmen. Everywhere he went, he asked essentially the same question: Do you enjoy singing? And would you consider joining the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir? “I attended 31 hunting gatherings. Altogether, I drove 5,500 kilometers,” Kinzel explains.
That's roughly 5,000 kilometers spent searching for new voices. And the effort paid off. “After my tour, seven new singers actually joined us. As chairman, I'm pretty proud of that.”
Seven singers might not sound like much to a large musical organization. But for this small group of Austrian hunters, those seven voices made all the difference. They gave the choir a future. And they demonstrated what one determined individual can accomplish through dedication, persistence, and a genuine belief in what he's doing. “Hunting traditions need to be supported,” Kinzel says. Coming from him, those aren't just words.
A Choir Director with Hunting in His Blood
One man who has been part of the choir's story from the very beginning is Horst Moser. The longtime musical director is not only an experienced choir leader but also a passionate hunter. His connection to hunting goes back to childhood. “My father was a hunter, and I spent a lot of time outdoors with him when I was a boy,” Moser remembers.
Interestingly, he didn't earn his own hunting license until later in life. Kurt Puck, who had initiated the choir's founding, encouraged him to take the required hunting examination. Moser passed it in 2001. For him, hunting and music have been closely connected ever since. “Besides hunting, which brings all of us together, it's extremely important that we also preserve our culture and traditions,” Moser explains.
And the choir's repertoire goes well beyond hunting songs. Traditional Carinthian folk music, sacred compositions, and classical men's choir arrangements are all part of its musical identity. For Moser, the sense of community among the singers matters just as much as musical excellence. After all, a choir only works when everyone contributes. Even the finest individual singer cannot make a great choir alone. It takes people listening to one another, finding their place, and bringing their voices together. In many ways, that isn't so different from hunting.
Why Hunting Traditions Are More Than Folklore
Modern hunting conversations often revolve around wildlife management, harvest quotas, predator populations, habitat conservation, firearms, optics, and equipment. Those are all important parts of hunting today. But hunting is more than the practical business of managing wildlife. It is also a cultural tradition shaped over generations by shared values, rituals, and a unique relationship between people, animals, and the natural world.
In Austria and other German-speaking hunting cultures, that heritage is especially visible. Hunters use a traditional vocabulary, observe established customs when honoring harvested game, and often sound hunting horns at the conclusion of a group hunt. One custom involves placing a small branch, known as the Letzter Bissen or “last bite,” in the mouth of a harvested animal as a symbolic gesture of respect. Another is the Erlegerbruch, a traditional branch presented to the successful hunter. Following a group hunt, the harvested animals may be arranged in a ceremonial display known as the Strecke, with hunting horns sounding to honor the game. To outsiders, these customs may seem unusual.
But their meaning goes far beyond ceremony. They remind hunters that taking an animal's life carries responsibility and that respect for wildlife does not end when the trigger is pulled.
That message matters, particularly at a time when hunting is increasingly questioned and scrutinized.
Of course, following traditions doesn't automatically make someone an ethical hunter.
What matters is whether the values behind those traditions are reflected in everyday actions.
A well-placed shot, minimizing unnecessary suffering, treating harvested game with dignity, and being willing to question one's own decisions are all essential parts of responsible hunting.
A hunting choir cannot replace those responsibilities. But it can help communicate the values behind them. When hunters sing together, they reveal a side of hunting that rarely makes headlines. A side built around community, cultural identity, friendship, and a genuine connection to the land.
From St. Hubertus Celebrations to the Final Hunting Horn
The relationship between hunting and music becomes especially clear during traditional ceremonies. The Carinthian Hunters’ Choir regularly performs at events where newly qualified hunters receive their hunting certificates.
For young hunters, these occasions mark an important milestone. After months of studying wildlife biology, hunting regulations, firearm safety, and practical hunting skills, they have finally passed their examinations.
A new chapter begins. Traditional hunting songs add a sense of occasion to the celebration.
For Ferdinand Kinzel, these performances are among the choir's most rewarding activities.
“When young hunters receive their certificates and we're able to sing for them, that's always something special,” he says.
The choir also performs at St. Hubertus celebrations, hunting services, and other events throughout the year. St. Hubertus is traditionally regarded as the patron saint of hunters. His feast day, November 3, is an important occasion in many European hunting communities.
These gatherings are about more than religious observance. They also encourage hunters to reflect on their responsibilities. The legend of St. Hubertus emphasizes moderation, respect for creation, and the importance of recognizing that wildlife is more than a resource to be used. Those ideas remain relevant to modern hunting ethics, regardless of an individual's religious beliefs.
Alongside traditional hunting songs, the choir performs familiar pieces such as “La Montanara,” a well-known Alpine song. For Kinzel, certain songs carry especially personal meaning because they are connected to hunting celebrations and memories. And that's another remarkable quality of music. It preserves moments that might otherwise fade. A song can bring back memories of a first hunt with your father, a gathering with old hunting friends, or someone who is no longer with us. Sometimes a familiar melody says more than words ever could.
New Singers Welcome
Thanks to the dedication of its members and leadership, the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir can once again look toward the future with confidence. The seven new singers recruited through Ferdinand Kinzel's remarkable road trip are proof that the effort was worthwhile. But the search for new members continues.
Rehearsals take place every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Schloss Mageregg in Klagenfurt, the traditional headquarters of the Carinthian Hunters’ Association.
Formal musical training is not necessarily required. What matters most is enjoying music, having an interest in hunting culture, and being willing to contribute to the group.
According to the choir's leadership, even those who do not yet hold a hunting license are not automatically excluded. Nevertheless, the choir intends to preserve its identity as a community rooted in active hunting. Anyone interested in joining can contact the Carinthian Hunters’ Choir
Why Shot & Stillness Tells the Stories of Singing Hunters
Readers of Shot & Stillness know that we enjoy talking about hunting rifles, riflescopes, ammunition, and modern hunting technology. We test firearms, evaluate accuracy, and discuss which equipment actually makes sense in the field. But hunting has never been just about equipment. An accurate rifle matters. Safe, responsible firearm handling matters even more.
Yet there's another question worth asking: What makes someone a hunter beyond the gear they carry? It's their attitude toward wildlife. Their connection to nature. Their respect for other people. And their willingness to preserve traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Of course, not every hunter needs to be able to sing. And nobody becomes a lesser hunter simply because traditional hunting songs aren't their thing. But we should recognize the people who devote their time and energy to keeping our hunting heritage alive.
People like Ferdinand Kinzel, who drove more than 5,000 kilometers across Carinthia to find new singers. And Horst Moser, whose musical dedication has helped turn individual voices into something greater than the sum of their parts.
Along with the singers themselves, who invest their free time in rehearsals, concerts, and hunting ceremonies. Together, they ensure that hunting remains more than a technical pursuit. They keep its cultural traditions alive.
Because tradition isn't about stubbornly clinging to everything from the past.
It's about recognizing what deserves to be preserved and making sure the next generation has a chance to experience it. And as long as people are willing to stand together for something they believe in, hunting traditions will continue to have a future.
Weidmannsheil — and may the music never stop!
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