Before you are allowed to hunt, you must pass an examination. The courses are regulated at the cantonal level and last up to three years. Some cantons recognise the qualifications of other cantons.
If you have passed the hunting test, you can obtain a hunting licence in most cantons. In other cantons, you must be a member or guest of a hunting association to be allowed to hunt on one of their hunting estates. Please check with the canton in which you wish to hunt.
Which cantons offer hunting licences?
In most cantons, you can hunt anywhere in the canton if you have purchased a cantonal hunting licence. You are allowed to shoot a certain number of animals. This number is stated on the licence, as is how long the licence is valid for.
You are not allowed to hunt in federally and cantonally protected areas such as hunting ban areas or waterfowl and migratory bird reserves.
Cantons with hunting licences are Bern, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Graubünden, Ticino, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel and Jura.
Which cantons have hunting estates?
In some cantons, the communes lease hunting rights to a hunting association. As a member or guest of this hunting association, you may hunt in the leased area.
Cantons with hunting estates: Zurich, Lucerne, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, St Gallen, Aargau and Thurgau.
Hunting is not permitted in the canton of Geneva. State gamekeepers regulate game populations there.
You must regularly prove that you can shoot accurately. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to hunt. Most cantons require you to go shooting annually at a recognised hunting shooting range and demonstrate your accuracy.
You can find more information on compulsory shooting and recognised shooting ranges from the relevant cantonal office.
The hunting season does not last the entire year. There are closed seasons during which you are not allowed to hunt. The Confederation sets the closed seasons for each animal species. The cantons can shorten the hunting season or restrict the list of species you are allowed to hunt. Check with the relevant cantonal authority to find out when you are allowed to hunt which animal.
Anyone interested in using hunting dogs must take training courses and pass tests. Contact the relevant cantonal authority for more information about the requirements for using hunting dogs.