World Day Against Hunting – For Life, Not for Death

Recreational hunting is presented by many advocates as a tradition, an act of maintaining nature, or a regulation of wild populations. However, reality shows other aspects: animal protection organizations emphasize that many animals suffer unnecessarily, not only those that are killed, but also the injured that do not die immediately.

The IG Wild beim Wild specifies that this day is directed against recreational hunting.

The debate also raises ethical questions: to what extent can killing wild animals for pleasure or as a hobby be legitimate, while we simultaneously defend biodiversity and animal welfare as values enshrined in animal protection law? The themes of animal rights to life, respect for their existence, and the disruption of ecosystems are at the heart of the discussions.

The World Day on November 11 thus offers the opportunity to reflect critically, exchange views, and make concrete alternatives visible.

What can everyone do on this day?

Here is a list of activities – from small gestures to publicly visible actions:

Get informed and share

• Read the call from IG Wild beim Wild for November 11.
• Share posts on social media with hashtags such as #DayAgainstHunting, #StopRecreationalHunting, or #WildlifeNotTrophy.
• Organize a small film night or discussion with friends or family about hunting, animal welfare, and biodiversity.

Show public presence

• Wear a visible garment or sticker with an anti-hunting message (e.g. “Live Wild Rather Than Trophies”) during a walk or outing on that day.
• Photograph a walk in the forest or a wild animal in its natural habitat, then publish the image accompanied by a brief explanation of the importance of this day.
• Agree on a small walk/run/hike in a wood or natural area, visibly, in colour or with a sign, as a silent vigil against recreational hunting.

Act locally

• Find out about local actions or demonstrations in your region organized by animal or nature protection associations.
• Visit a nature reserve or wildlife park and recommend a volunteer commitment or a donation to protect habitats without resorting to recreational hunting as “regulation”.
• Engage in conversation with farmers or foresters: what does sustainable protection of wild populations look like without recreational hunting? What alternative strategies exist?

Act politically and structurally

• Write a short email or letter to your local council or the relevant environmental authority to request more transparency and participation in the granting of hunting permits and wildlife management.
• Support organizations committed against recreational or sport hunting, through membership, donations, or active engagement.
• Research the hunting regulations in your region (e.g. culling quotas, use of traps, game-related damage) and publish or share your findings online; transparency creates pressure.

Long-term behaviour changes
• Rethink your consumption habits: do you consume game meat or hunting-related products (deer antlers, trophies)? Opt for alternatives.
• Engage in education: encourage schools, environmental groups, or youth organizations to offer modules or outings on wildlife protection without hunting, to develop nuanced thinking in the next generation.
• Join a network: connect with people practicing wildlife photography, nature observation, or citizen science. Instead of recreational hunting, it cultivates wonder and observation.

Why specifically November 11?

This day has been specifically declared an action day by IG Wild beim Wild to ensure annual visibility. It serves as a counterpoint to the routine of the hunting season in many places: a moment of reflection rather than a hunt. At a time when biodiversity loss and habitat destruction are reaching historic proportions, recreational hunting appears as a symbol of outdated conceptions of nature: a nature seen as a resource to be controlled and directed, rather than as an autonomous entity to be respected.

Hunting is not simply “a part of culture” or “a care for nature,” as is often claimed. It rather raises fundamental questions: Who decides life and death in the wild? What role do we assign ourselves in relation to non-human life? And what alternatives exist if we no longer accept recreational hunting as a miracle solution in wildlife management?

World Day Against Hunting, on November 11, offers the opportunity to raise these questions loudly and make these issues visible. It is not enough to talk about nature conservation; action is required. Every small gesture, every conscious decision, every conversation counts.

Participate: make your voice heard on this day, for a nature without recreational killers, for a life of animals in the forest that is not threatened by bullets. Not just on November 11, but with increased visibility on this day.

Thank you very much for your commitment.