Hunting Seasons in Germany 2026
| Species / Season | Open Season | Night Hunting | Methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roe Buck Season | 05/01 – 10/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Bucks from May 1, yearling does from May 1 · Night hunting prohibited, observe closed seasons |
| Roe Doe Season | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Does and fawns from September 1 · Spare does with fawns |
| Red Stag Season | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Rut in September/October · Follow cull plan |
| Wild Boar Season | year-round | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Year-round, sows with piglets spared · Sows with piglets protected year-round |
| Fallow Buck Season | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Rut in October · Follow cull plan |
| Chamois Season | 08/01 – 12/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Alpine regions only · Strict closed season and cull plan |
| Moose Germany | 01/01 – 12/31 | no | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Not a game species in Germany · Protected year-round, no hunting possible | |
| Sika Deer Season | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Found in Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria · Cull plan, federal hunting law |
| Mouflon Season | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Found in low mountain ranges · Cull plan, federal hunting law |
| Fox Season Germany | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Night hunting with night vision allowed (ASF) · Federal/state hunting law |
| Raccoon Season Germany | year-round | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Invasive species, year-round · No closed season |
| Raccoon Dog Season Germany | year-round | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Invasive species, year-round · EU invasive species regulation |
| Badger Season Germany | 08/01 – 10/31 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Stand and den hunting · Federal/state law |
| Pine Marten Season Germany | 10/16 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Fur hunting, trapping possible · National hunting law |
| Stone Marten Season Germany | 10/16 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Common near settlements · Hunting law |
| Polecat Season Germany | 10/16 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Rarely hunted · Hunting law |
| American Mink Season Germany | year-round | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Invasive species, year-round · No closed season |
| European Hare Season Germany | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Driven and stand hunting · Hunting law, population dependent |
| Wild Rabbit Season Germany | year-round | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Year-round · Hunting law |
| Coypu Season Germany | year-round | yes | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Invasive species, waterway damage · Year-round, no closed season |
| Muskrat Season Germany | year-round | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Year-round · Trapping common |
| Pheasant Season Germany | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Driven and stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Woodcock Season Germany | 10/16 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Dusk hunting, shotgun · Hunting law, EU Birds Directive |
| Mallard Season Germany | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Most common duck, shotgun · Hunting law, daily bag limit |
| Teal Season Germany | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Smallest duck species, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Greylag Goose Season Germany | 08/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Goose flighting, shotgun/rifle · Hunting law |
| Canada Goose Season Germany | 08/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Introduced species · Hunting law |
| Egyptian Goose Season Germany | 08/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Invasive species, rapid expansion · Federal/state hunting law |
| Wood Pigeon Season Germany | 11/01 – 02/20 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Decoying and stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Carrion Crow Season Germany | 08/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Decoying, shotgun · {'General License' if cc=='GB' else 'Hunting law'} |
| Magpie Season | 08/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Decoying and stand · Hunting law |
| Jay Season | 10/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Stand and decoying · Hunting law |
| Coot Season | 09/01 – 02/20 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Shotgun, waterside hunting · Hunting law |
| Collared Dove Season | 11/01 – 02/20 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Stand hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Hooded Crow Season | 08/01 – 02/28 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Decoying, shotgun · Hunting law |
| White-fronted Goose Season | 11/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Bean Goose Season | 11/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Hunting seasons may differ by federal state. Check state hunting law. — Waterfowl hunting, shotgun · Hunting law |
| Roe Buck Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 04/01 – 10/15 | no | rifle | Season opens April 1, earlier than federal default. Yearling does also from April 1. · Night hunting prohibited |
| Roe Buck Season (Berlin) (BE) | 01/01 – 12/31 | no | No regular roe deer hunting in Berlin. Only individual culls within wildlife management. · Special permit only | |
| Roe Buck Season (Bremen) (HB) | 05/01 – 10/15 | no | rifle | Very limited hunting area. Hunting only in outer areas of Bremen and Bremerhaven. · Bremen state hunting law |
| Roe Buck Season (Hamburg) (HH) | 05/01 – 10/15 | no | rifle | Limited hunting area. Hunting only in outer districts and nature reserves. · Hamburg state hunting law |
| Roe Doe Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Does and fawns from September 1. Yearling does huntable from May 1. · Spare does with fawns |
| Roe Doe Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and fawns from September 1 to January 31. Extended season compared to federal law. · Spare does with fawns |
| Roe Doe Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and fawns September 1 to January 31. · Spare does with fawns |
| Roe Doe Season (Saxony) (SN) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and fawns September 1 to January 31. Saxon state hunting law. · Spare does with fawns |
| Roe Doe Season (Saxony-Anhalt) (ST) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and fawns September 1 to January 31. · Spare does with fawns |
| Roe Doe Season (Thuringia) (TH) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and fawns September 1 to January 31. Thuringian hunting law. · Spare does with fawns |
| Red Stag Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Class I and II stags from August 1. Rut September/October. Strict cull plans in Alpine and pre-Alpine areas. · Follow cull plan and game management association |
| Red Stag Season (Baden-Württemberg) (BW) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer only in designated red deer districts (South Black Forest, North Black Forest). Hunting outside prohibited. · Designated areas only, cull plan |
| Red Stag Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Harz, Solling and Lüneburg Heath. Rut September/October. · Cull plan, designated red deer areas |
| Red Stag Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Significant red deer populations in Schorfheide and other forest areas. Rut September/October. · Cull plan and game management association |
| Red Stag Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Large red deer populations, especially in Müritz region and Darß. Rut September/October. · Cull plan |
| Red Stag Season (Saxony) (SN) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Ore Mountains and Saxon Switzerland. Season starts September 1. · Cull plan, Saxon hunting law |
| Red Stag Season (Hesse) (HE) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Taunus, Vogelsberg and northern Hesse. Rut September/October. · Cull plan, Hessian hunting law |
| Red Stag Season (Rhineland-Palatinate) (RP) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Eifel, Hunsrück and Palatinate Forest. Rut September/October. · Cull plan, state hunting law |
| Red Stag Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Eifel, Sauerland and Siegerland. Designated red deer districts only. · Cull plan, red deer districts |
| Red Stag Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Segeberg Forest and eastern hill country. Season starts September 1. · Cull plan, state hunting law |
| Red Stag Season (Saxony-Anhalt) (ST) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Harz and Fläming. Rut September/October. · Cull plan |
| Red Stag Season (Thuringia) (TH) | 08/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Red deer in Thuringian Forest and Harz. Rut September/October. · Cull plan, Thuringian hunting law |
| Red Hind Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hinds and calves September 1 to January 31. Strict cull plan. · Spare hinds with calves, cull plan |
| Red Hind Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hinds and calves from September 1. Yearlings from May 1. · Cull plan |
| Red Hind Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Hinds and calves September 1 to January 31. · Cull plan, spare hinds with calves |
| Wild Boar Season (Bavaria) (BY) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting allowed, thermal imaging attachments since 2020 with permit. · Sows with piglets protected, permit required for night vision devices |
| Wild Boar Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with night vision and thermal imaging generally permitted (ASF prevention). · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night vision and thermal imaging allowed. Intensive hunting due to ASF. · Sows with piglets protected, check ASF core zone |
| Wild Boar Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night vision allowed. Intensified hunting due to ASF risk. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Saxony) (SN) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with thermal imaging allowed. ASF prevention priority. · Sows with piglets protected, ASF measures |
| Wild Boar Season (Baden-Württemberg) (BW) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting allowed. Night vision devices with permit from lower hunting authority. · Sows with piglets protected, permit for night vision |
| Wild Boar Season (Hesse) (HE) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with night vision allowed (Hessian hunting regulation). · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Rhineland-Palatinate) (RP) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting allowed, night vision with special permit. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting allowed, night vision with permit from lower hunting authority. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Saarland) (SL) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting allowed, night vision with permit. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Saxony-Anhalt) (ST) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with night vision and thermal imaging allowed. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Thuringia) (TH) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with night vision allowed. ASF prevention. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Wild Boar Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | year-round | yes | rifle | Year-round. Night hunting with night vision allowed. · Sows with piglets protected |
| Fallow Buck Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Significant fallow deer populations. Rut in October. Mature bucks from September 1. · Cull plan |
| Fallow Buck Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Large fallow deer populations, especially on Darß and Mecklenburg Lake District. Rut October. · Cull plan |
| Fallow Buck Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Fallow deer in Lauenburg and eastern hill country. Rut October. · Cull plan, state hunting law |
| Fallow Buck Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Fallow deer in various regions of Lower Saxony. Rut October. · Cull plan |
| Fallow Buck Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Fallow deer in various regions. Rut October. · Cull plan, NRW hunting law |
| Fallow Buck Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Fallow deer in selected areas of Franconia and Lower Bavaria. Rut October. · Cull plan |
| Fallow Doe Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and calves September 1 to January 31. · Cull plan, spare does with calves |
| Fallow Doe Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | 09/01 – 01/31 | no | rifle | Does and calves September 1 to January 31. · Cull plan, spare does with calves |
| Fox Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Season July 15 to February 28. Night hunting allowed. Night vision with permit. · Spare vixens with cubs (March-June), Bavarian hunting law |
| Fox Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Night hunting with night vision allowed. Intensified hunting as part of predator management. · Spare vixens with cubs |
| Fox Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Night hunting allowed. Young foxes from July 15, adult foxes year-round if rabies suspected. · Spare vixens with cubs, state hunting law |
| Fox Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Night hunting allowed. Predator management for wader bird protection. · Spare vixens with cubs |
| Fox Season (Baden-Württemberg) (BW) | 07/15 – 02/28 | yes | rifle | Night hunting allowed. Earth hunting possible. · Spare vixens with cubs, state hunting law |
| European Hare Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Driven and stand hunting. Population-dependent release. Voluntary restraint in many areas. · Bavarian hunting law, check population |
| European Hare Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | 10/16 – 12/31 | no | rifle | Shortened season: October 16 to December 31. Population-dependent release by hunting authority. · NRW hunting law, shortened season |
| European Hare Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 10/01 – 12/31 | no | rifle | Season October 1 to December 31. Shorter than federal law. · State hunting law SH |
| European Hare Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Driven and stand hunting. Population-dependent, declining in many areas. · State hunting law, check population |
| European Hare Season (Hesse) (HE) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Only with sufficient population. Many areas voluntarily refrain. · Hessian hunting law, population check |
| Pheasant Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle, shotgun | Driven and stand hunting. Cocks and hens huntable. Strong populations in marshland. · State hunting law |
| Pheasant Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle, shotgun | Driven hunting traditionally important. Good populations in hedgerow landscape. · State hunting law SH |
| Pheasant Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle, shotgun | Driven and stand hunting. Cocks and hens. Population declining in many areas. · Bavarian hunting law |
| Pheasant Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | 10/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle, shotgun | Driven and stand hunting. In many areas only cocks released. Population decline. · NRW hunting law, often cocks only |
| Mallard Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | shotgun | Most common duck. Waterside and driven hunting. Lead shot banned at water bodies. · Bavarian hunting law, no lead shot at water |
| Mallard Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | shotgun | Significant duck hunting in coastal and inland waters. Lead shot banned. · State hunting law, lead shot ban |
| Mallard Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | shotgun | Important waterfowl hunting on coast and inland waters. Lead shot banned. · State hunting law, lead shot ban |
| Mallard Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | shotgun | Waterside hunting in lake landscape. Lead shot banned at water bodies. · State hunting law, lead shot ban |
| Mallard Season (Mecklenburg-W. Pomerania) (MV) | 09/01 – 01/15 | no | shotgun | Significant waterfowl hunting on Baltic coast and inland waters. Lead shot banned. · State hunting law, lead shot ban |
| Badger Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 07/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Season July 1 to January 15. Longer than federal law. Stand and den hunting. · Bavarian hunting law |
| Badger Season (Baden-Württemberg) (BW) | 08/01 – 10/31 | no | rifle | Stand and den hunting. Focus in late summer and autumn. · State hunting law BW |
| Badger Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 08/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Season August 1 to January 15. Extended season. · State hunting law NI |
| Badger Season (Brandenburg) (BB) | 08/01 – 01/15 | no | rifle | Season August 1 to January 15. · State hunting law BB |
| Badger Season (Hesse) (HE) | 08/01 – 10/31 | no | rifle | Stand and den hunting. Hessian hunting law. · Hessian hunting law |
| Wood Pigeon Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 11/01 – 02/20 | no | shotgun | Decoying and stand hunting. Shotgun. Mainly in autumn during pigeon flights. · Bavarian hunting law |
| Wood Pigeon Season (Lower Saxony) (NI) | 08/01 – 04/15 | no | shotgun | Season August 1 to April 15. Extended for crop protection. Decoying significant. · State hunting law NI |
| Wood Pigeon Season (Schleswig-Holstein) (SH) | 10/01 – 02/20 | no | shotgun | Decoying and stand hunting. Season from October 1. · State hunting law SH |
| Wood Pigeon Season (North Rhine-Westphalia) (NW) | 11/01 – 02/20 | no | shotgun | Decoying and stand hunting. Shotgun. · NRW hunting law |
| Chamois Season (Bavaria) (BY) | 08/01 – 12/15 | no | rifle | Main chamois hunting area in Germany. Alps and pre-Alps. Strict cull plans. Rut November. · Cull plan, protection forest areas, Bavarian hunting law |
Note: Summary from the HuntKit hunting seasons database (as of 2026-08-02). Seasons may vary regionally and change at short notice — the official regulations of the respective country/state prevail. Not legal advice.
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