Ökologischer Jagdverband

The Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. (ÖJV) is a German hunting association committed to hunting guided by ecological science. Founded in 1988 in Bavaria as the Ökologischer Jagdverein Bayern, it emerged from growing public criticism of traditional hunting practices, particularly trophy hunting and wildlife feeding, which were seen as causing high game populations and forest damage. The association was established on St. Hubert's Day (November 3) 1988 at a founding meeting in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich. Its founding members included forestry professors, forest directors, and prominent conservationists such as Horst Stern and Hubert Weinzierl. In March 1991, representatives of the then four regional ÖJV associations (Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate) met in Bad Nauheim and founded a national umbrella organization, the Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. The federal office is located in Herzogenaurach. Elisabeth Emmert served as chairwoman from its founding in 1991 until 2023, being the first woman to lead a German hunting association. As of early 2024, the ÖJV had 3,930 members across its regional associations, which currently number twelve. The ÖJV is a non-profit registered association and a recognized nature conservation association in Bavaria under the Environmental Appeals Act (UmwRG). It is a member of the German Nature Conservation Ring (Deutscher Naturschutzring) since 1996 and of the International Alpine Protection Commission (CIPRA) since January 2014. It cooperates with its Austrian sister organization, the Ökologischer Jagdverband Österreichs, founded in 2010. The ÖJV sees hunting as a legitimate form of sustainable use of nature, with ecology providing the scientific basis. It aims to prevent ecological and unreasonable economic damage in cultural landscapes and to enable sustainable use of natural resources. The association is active in hunting law and weapons law discussions, recently participating in the evaluation of German weapons law in 2026. It also awards the Wald-vor-Wild-Preis (Forest before Game Prize) for exemplary hunting practices.

The Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. (ÖJV) traces its origins to growing criticism of traditional hunting practices in Germany. In 1971, Horst Stern's film "Bemerkungen über den Rothirsch" (Remarks on the Red Deer) brought public attention to wildlife damage in German forests caused by high populations of red deer and roe deer through browsing, fraying, and peeling. The ensuing scandal put the issue on the agenda of committees in the Bavarian State Parliament and the German Bundestag. This, along with statements from nature conservation and forestry representatives and evolving public discussion, led to increased criticism since the 1970s of traditional hunting practices such as trophy selection and wildlife feeding for prized species, and the resulting high game populations. Against this background and amid a lack of reform willingness among traditional hunting associations, the Ökologischer Jagdverein Bayern (ÖJV Bayern) was founded on St. Hubert's Day in 1988 at a founding meeting in the Munich Hofbräuhaus. The board elected included Richard Plochmann, professor of forest policy and forest history; Sebastian von Rotenhan, chairman of the Working Group for Natural Forest Management (ANW) from 1989 to 2001 and owner of a model natural forest management operation in Rentweinsdorf; and Hans Sleik, a trained professional hunter and forest director heading the Bavarian Salforste in Austria. Other notable founding members were Georg Sperber, forester and forest director of the Ebrach Forest Office; Ulrich Ammer, professor of land use planning and nature conservation; and Peter Burschel, professor of silviculture and forest management. Among the co-initiators was Walter Helemann, editor-in-chief of the hunting magazine "Pirsch" from 1970 to 1987. About 30 participants attended the founding meeting and subsequent press conference, including co-initiators Horst Stern, science journalist and filmmaker; Hubert Weinzierl, long-time chairman of the Bund Naturschutz in Bavaria; and Wolfgang Schröder, professor of wildlife biology and hunting science. In March 1991, representatives of the then four ÖJV regional associations (Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate) met in Bad Nauheim and decided to found a joint umbrella organization under the name Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. The federal office is located in Herzogenaurach. Elisabeth Emmert served as chairwoman of the federal association from its founding in 1991 until 2023, being the first woman to head a German hunting association. Additional regional associations joined over time: Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg-Berlin, Niedersachsen-Bremen, Saarland (Ökologisch Jagen im Saarland e.V.), Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein (until July 2022 Arbeitsgemeinschaft Naturnahe Jagd Schleswig-Holstein e.V.), and Thuringia. As of early 2024, the number of members in the regional associations was 3,930. In 1996, the ÖJV became a member of the Deutscher Naturschutzring, replacing the ÖJV Bayern which had been represented there since 1990. Since January 2014, the federal association has been a member of the International Alpine Protection Commission (CIPRA). It cooperates with the Austrian sister organization Ökologischer Jagdverband Österreichs, founded in 2010. The ÖJV Bayern has awarded the Wald-vor-Wild-Preis since 2010 for exemplary hunting or special commitment to it. Award winners (through 2024) include Georg Hinterstoißer, the municipal forest operations of Hausen, Bamberg, Munich, Fürth, and Markt Weitnau, the Juliusspital Würzburg, the hunting cooperatives Lämmersdorf II, Wernsbach, Hartpenning, and Hausham (hunter Peter Lechner), the Blauwald forest operation, district managers of the Bavarian State Forests Frammersbach and Ebrach, and Andreas Tyroller of the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV). The ÖJV Bayern is a recognized nature conservation association in Bavaria under § 3 of the Environmental Appeals Act (UmwRG), granting special participation rights and legal remedies under §§ 63 and 64 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). The ÖJV sees hunting as a legitimate form of sustainable use of nature. Ecology should provide the scientific basis for hunting, affecting silviculture, nature, species, and animal protection. Hunting should prevent ecological and unreasonable economic damage in cultural landscapes and enable sustainable use of natural resources. Accordingly, wild boar must be regulated due to agricultural damage. Given current environmental problems, especially climate change and the associated mass proliferation of bark beetles, the importance of forest protection is increasing.

• 2026

  ÖJV participates in evaluation of German weapons law.

• 2023

  Elisabeth Emmert ends her tenure as chairwoman after 32 years.

• 2014

  ÖJV becomes member of CIPRA (International Alpine Protection Commission).

• 2010

  Wald-vor-Wild-Preis awarded for the first time; Austrian sister organization founded.

• 1996

  ÖJV becomes member of Deutscher Naturschutzring.

• 1991

  National umbrella organization Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. founded in Bad Nauheim.

• 1988

  Ökologischer Jagdverein Bayern founded on St. Hubert's Day in Munich.

• 1971

  Horst Stern's film "Bemerkungen über den Rothirsch" sparks public debate on wildlife damage in German forests.

Ecological hunting association advocating for science-based hunting, forest protection, and sustainable wildlife management.

1. 1Ökologischer Jagdverband e.V. official websiteoejv.org
2. 2Ökologischer Jagdverband - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ökologischer Jagdverband - Wikidatawikidata.org