Professional hunters See explanation of the designation of:

The hunting permit holder is responsible for the protection of the hunt (Jagdschutz), which they must either perform themselves or through gamekeepers and professional hunters. As a publicly appointed supervisor, the professional hunter has numerous powers, such as the right to stop, search and arrest.

Austrian citizenship; age of majority, decision-making capacity and no valid representation according to Section 1034 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB); possession of a valid Tyrolean hunting card; mental and physical aptitude for the tasks connected with hunting protection, and the good repute required therefor (no serious infringement or repeated infringements of hunting regulations in the last 3 years; no express termination of the hunting lease in the last 3 years; no criminal conviction for a deliberate offence punishable by more than 1 year's imprisonment or for a punishable offence against life and limb, freedom, the property of others, the environment, sexual integrity and self-esteem, or cruelty to animals, unless the conviction has been expunged or is subject to the restriction on the provision of criminal record information in accordance with the expungement regulations or comparable regulations of another state); professional aptitude (professionally qualified); regular, continuous and sufficient exercise of hunt protection. Persons who have successfully completed or passed the professional hunter’s examination or a recognised training course or examination are considered to be professionally qualified.

If the recognised training course or examination was completed or passed more than 3 years prior to the appointment, the person can only be deemed to be professionally qualified if they have attended a further training course or taken part in a recognised activity within this period.

Persons will be admitted to the professional hunter’s examination who are over 18, are in possession of a valid Tyrolean hunting card, have successfully completed an apprenticeship as a professional hunter, have completed a training course providing the knowledge required to perform the service as a municipal forest ranger, have completed a training course for professional hunters, and have knowledge of first aid. Examinations taken in other provinces in accordance with the legal provisions there may replace the professional hunter’s examination in whole or in part if these can be regarded as equivalent to the examination subject matter and the examination requirements. If only the practical shooting test is missing, this can be remedied upon application. Notwithstanding this, a supplementary examination on the subject matter of the examination ‘Knowledge of hunting regulations with special regard to the tasks as a hunting protection supervisor, including hunting correspondence with authorities and knowledge of the law regarding forestry, conservation, animal protection, plant protection and weapons required for the fulfilment of the tasks as a hunting protection supervisor’ is always required. The chair of the respective examination committee will decide on the scope of the supplementary examination to be taken in the admission notice.

Birth certificate; CV; proof of possession of a valid Tyrolean hunting card; confirmation of a successfully completed professional hunter’s apprenticeship; proof of training entitling the holder to serve as a municipal forest warden; confirmation of participation in a training course run by the Tyrolean Hunters’ Association (Tiroler Jägerverband); confirmation by the Tyrolean Hunters’ Association’s representative for training and further training on the proper keeping of the work and service record book; confirmation of participation in a first-aid course lasting at least 16 hours no earlier than 5 years before the time of application; certificate of a professional hunter’s examination or equivalent.

Administrative charges; fees in accordance with the Fees Act (Gebührengesetz); examination fee: EUR 50.00.

• Tyrolean state government, Abteilung Landwirtschaftliches Schulwesen und Landwirtschaftsrecht

The application does not have to be signed electronically – using a mobile phone signature (Handy-Signatur) or E-ID – or by hand. 

A professional hunter appointed by the hunting permit holder becomes a hunting protection supervisor through confirmation by the district administrative authority. This requires the submission of a medical certificate stating that the professional hunter has the mental and physical aptitude to perform the tasks associated with hunting protection.

Sections 30 et seq. of the Tyrolean Hunting Act (Tiroler Jagdgesetz) 2004, Provincial Law Gazette (LGBl.) No 41, last amended by LGBl. No 116/2020; Section 4 (professional hunter’s examination) of the First Implementing Regulation (Erste Durchführungsverordnung) to the Tyrolean Hunting Act 2004, LGBl. No 118/2015 last amended by LGBl. No 63/2016.

Please ask the competent body for information.

The profession of professional hunter, as defined by the Tyrolean Hunting Act 2004, LGBl. No 41, is aligned with the qualification level under Article 11(b)(i) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

National Advice Centre for Vocational Qualifications (Nationales Beratungszentrum für Berufsqualifikationen)

Federal Minister of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft)

Mag. Irene Linke

Stubenring 1, 1010 Wien

Phone: +43 1 71100-805446

E-Mail: irene.linke@oesterreich.gv.at