Postscript - 31st Austrian Hunting Conference

Created: March 10, 2026
Last updated: March 11, 2026

Postscript - 31st Austrian Hunting Conference

Project leader

Dr. Johann Gasteiner

Direktor

The 31st Austrian Hunting Conference took place on March 5th and 6th, 2026, the Puttererseehalle in Aigen im Ennstal. The conference was organized by the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein under the direction of Direktor in Johann Gasteiner, in cooperation with the conference program committee. Numerous hunters, experts from science, administration, and nature conservation, as well as representatives of hunting organizations from all over Austria, participated in the largest professional event for hunters in Central Europe.

Hunting in the EU – Hunting practices in the context of international agreements and EU policy

The central theme of this year's conference was "Hunting in the EU – Hunting Practices Against the Backdrop of International Agreements and EU Policy.
The presentations and discussions explored the significant influence of European legislation, international agreements, and national implementation strategies on hunting practices. Decisions at the EU level are increasingly having a direct impact on wildlife management, habitat management, and hunting regulations in the regions.

The conference content was also based on a survey of participants at the 2025 hunters' conference and addressed current issues. Topics covered included the impact of European nature conservation and biodiversity programs, the EU Restoration Regulation, sustainable hunting of protected species, issues of animal disease control, and aspects of wildlife crime. It became clear that modern hunting represents a complex interplay of law, ecology, ethics, and social responsibility .

In his welcoming address, the conference host emphasized the importance of professional exchange between practitioners, researchers, and administrators. Particularly in light of increasing European regulations, hunting has the opportunity to highlight its role as an indispensable component of sustainable nature and wildlife management.

Greetings were addressed to the participants by, among others, the deputy Styrian state hunting master and member of the National Council Andreas Kühberger, as well as the president of Hunting Austria, state hunting master Anton Larcher.

For more than three decades, the Austrian Hunting Conference has provided a platform for further education, discussion, and networking. The 31st edition once again underscored the central importance of a well-founded dialogue about the future of hunting – particularly in the complex interplay between regional practices and European policy. The event thus provided crucial impetus for the responsible and future-oriented development of hunting in Austria and Europe.