Germany

Summary

Germany has a federal hunting act and sixteen state hunting acts, which may extend or narrow its bans; Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate deviate from it and apply only their own act. The Federal Hunting Act forbids shooting arrows or crossbow bolts at hoofed game, wolves and seals. Ten states go further and forbid arrows for all game or for all hunting. The other six states, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Saxony and Thuringia, have no rule of their own on the bow, so only the federal ban applies there.

Federal law

• Federal Hunting Act, § 19 (1) 1: shooting with arrows or crossbow bolts at hoofed game, wolves and seals is forbidden, including as a finishing shot. The breach is an administrative offence with a fine of up to EUR 5,000 (§ 39 (2) 2 and (3)).
• § 19 (2) lets the states extend these bans, or narrow them for special reasons; for birds, only on the grounds allowed by the EU Birds Directive.

States that ban arrows for all game

• Baden-Württemberg Hunting Act, § 31 (1) 3: shooting at game with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 5,000 (§ 67).
• Bavarian Hunting Act, Art. 29 (2) 1 (g) and (h): shooting at game with crossbows, or with bows or other devices that shoot bolts, arrows or spears, is forbidden, including as a finishing shot. Bavaria is the only state that names the bow itself. Fine up to EUR 5,000 (Art. 56 (1) 6).
• Hesse Hunting Act, § 23 (7): shooting at game with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 25,000 (§ 42).
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania hunting seasons regulation forbids hunting with crossbow bolts or arrows (§ 3 (1) 2). Fine up to EUR 10,000, and the hunting licence may be withdrawn for a time (§ 4, with § 41 (3) of the state hunting act).
• Lower Saxony Hunting Act, § 24 (1) 1: hunting with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden, beyond the federal ban. Fine up to EUR 25,000 (§ 41).
• North Rhine-Westphalia Hunting Act, § 19 (1) 2: hunting with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 5,000, and a hunting ban of one to six months may be added (§ 55 (1) 10, § 56).
• Rhineland-Palatinate Hunting Act, § 23 (1) 1: shooting at game with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 5,000 (§ 48). The new Rhineland-Palatinate act, in force from 1 April 2027, keeps the ban (§ 26 (1) 2 (e)).
• Saarland Hunting Act, § 32 (1) 9: hunting game with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 5,000 (§ 49).
• Saxony-Anhalt Hunting Act, § 23 (2) 1: hunting with crossbow bolts or arrows is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 2,500 (§ 44).
• Schleswig-Holstein Hunting Act, § 29 (5) 7: shooting with crossbow bolts and arrows at any species subject to hunting law is forbidden. Fine up to EUR 5,000, and the hunting licence may be withdrawn for a time (§ 37).

States with no rule of their own

In these six states the hunting act and the hunting regulations we read do not mention bows, arrows, crossbows or bolts. The federal ban for hoofed game, wolves and seals applies.

• Berlin: Berlin Hunting Act, § 22.
• Brandenburg: Brandenburg Hunting Act, § 26, and its implementing regulation.
• Bremen: Bremen Hunting Act, Art. 20.
• Hamburg: Hamburg Hunting Act, § 16.
• Saxony: Saxony Hunting Act, § 18, and the state hunting regulation.
• Thuringia: Thuringia Hunting Act, § 29, and its implementing regulation.

Exceptions

Most states allow the hunting authority to narrow these bans by regulation or in individual cases, for reasons such as animal diseases, serious game damage or, in several states, research and teaching. None of these clauses mentions the bow, and we found no exception granted for one.

The crossbow

Bavaria names the crossbow among forbidden hunting means. Federal law and the other nine states that extend the ban forbid crossbow bolts, not the crossbow by name.

Open questions

• In Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Saxony and Thuringia, no text we read says whether a bow may be used for game other than hoofed game, wolves and seals, such as hares, foxes or birds.
• Whether any exception has ever been granted for a bow in any state.
• Since when the federal act and each state have named arrows. We read the texts in force, not their history.
• Whether a bill on the bow is pending in any state parliament.

Before you go

This page describes the federal hunting act and the sixteen state hunting laws as they stood on the date below. Each state decides for itself within the federal act, so a change in one does not change the others. If you hear that bowhunting has been allowed somewhere in Germany, ask which state, and for the amendment of its hunting act or regulation and its number in the state gazette. Until then, shooting arrows at hoofed game is an administrative offence everywhere in Germany, and in ten states the ban covers all game; in the other six the question for other game is open. Confirm with the state hunting authority and with your host. The final check is yours.