Wolves and lynxes cause a slight reduction in the hunting quotas

The culling plans on wild animals in the canton provide for significantly more chamois than before. An explanation of what hunting means for forests, agriculture, and nature conservation. And how the quotas are set.
 

The Douglas fir – a conifer native to North America – is also becoming more common in the forests of Zug. Foresters are planting more of them because they are considered to be more climate-resistant: they are more tolerant of heat and drought than spruce or fir. But they do not grow completely undisturbed, as Beda Schlumpf, head of the Fisheries and Hunting Department at the Office for Forestry and Wildlife (Amt für Wald und Wild), explains. “Deer (Hirsche) can sweep away Douglas fir trees or partially peel their bark.” In general, young and small plants are more at risk from wild animals.

In order to allow the forest to regenerate naturally, various animal species are hunted: according to the current hunting regulations for 2025/26, at least 343 roe deer (Reh), 30 red deer (Hirsch) and 20 chamois (Gams) are to be culled in the canton.

Wolf attacks possible
In addition to forest protection, Beda Schlumpf cites another reason for hunting. “When there is a high density of wild animals of one species, diseases and genetic impoverishment can also occur.” And the danger on the roads also increases. The office estimates that around 157 roe deer will die from disease or traffic accidents in the 2025/26 hunting year.

Damage to agriculture, on the other hand, is rather rare, he emphasizes. “Wild animals sometimes also avoid agricultural crops.” These are often individual or young animals that are changing their territory or looking for a new habitat.

The canton now also takes into account the possible influence of large predators. The Zuger Zeitung newspaper has reported several times on sightings of wolves and lynxes in the canton. According to Beda Schlumpf, however, there is no increase in evidence of wild animals being killed, although this cannot be ruled out. For this reason, the minimum quota for deer has been reduced by 10, to 343.

Beda Schlumpf currently has no concerns that wolf packs could settle in the canton of Zug. Regarding the lifestyle of the predator, he adds: “A wolf can easily cover 80 kilometres a day.” The canton of Zug probably offers too few undisturbed habitats for packs to form, so most of the animals that pass through here are solitary.

The roe deer hunting season began in the canton of Zug on 1^st October 1.         Symbolic photo: Dominik Wunderli 
Beda Schlumpf is head of the Department of Fisheries and Hunting in the canton of Zug                   Photo: zvg.
Individual animals have already been sighted in the canton of Zug                       Symbolic photo: Julian Stratenschulte
The chamois population has grown significantly in the canton of Zug                    Symbolic photo: Hans Burch

Chamois population growing
While the minimum quota for roe deer has been slightly reduced compared to last year (352), the shooting quota for chamois has increased. From 13 last year to 20 this year. Beda Schlumpf explains: “The chamois population in the canton of Zug has increased significantly in recent years, and several herds have established themselves here in their habitats. The first herds migrated from the canton of Schwyz, and the population has grown steadily and is spreading.”

But how are these quotas determined? According to Beda Schlumpf, these are based on annual wildlife counts and scientific data. It’s not only the authorities that are involved in this process, but also hunters and environmental organisations. These surveys are supplemented by statistics, such as the number of roadkill and accident-related wildlife deaths in the canton of Zug.

On this basis, the Office for Forestry and Wildlife (Amt für Wald und Wild) draws up a proposal for the culling figures. This is then discussed by the Hunting Commission (Jagdkommission), which is made up of representatives from Wald Zug and from agriculture, hunting and environmental associations. Irène Kamer Fähndrich is also a member of the commission. As a board member of the WWF Zug, she has been representing the interests of nature conservation organisations there for more than six years. She also believes that regulating the wildlife population is necessary to ensure biodiversity. It's all about balance.

According to Irène Kamer Fähndrich, there are occasional differences of opinion within the commission, for example with representatives of the forestry sector, who are more concerned about damage caused by browsing. But there are no really serious differences. The WWF generally agrees with hunters, she says: “Hunters only want to kill as many animals as necessary.” And if large predators were to settle in the canton of Zug, they would be prepared to reduce the number of animals shot accordingly.

Ultimately, however, the Hunting Commission can only make recommendations. The final decision rests with the cantonal government. But Irène Kamer Fähndrich is generally satisfied with the current guidelines.
 

The hunting seasons 2025/2026
The hunting season for red deer and chamois is already closed. According to the canton's website, a total of 52 red deer and 21 chamois have been shot.

Small game hunting has been underway since 1st October. In addition to roe deer, this also includes furred game, badgers, and various species of game birds. While the roe deer hunting season ends on 29th November at the latest, hunting for game birds is still permitted until 31st January of the following year.