Switzerland: The canton's proposed late autumn hunting plan is too ambitious for hunters. "200 fewer animals must be killed".
Difficult dialogue between the Ticino Hunters' Federation (FCTI) and the Office for Hunting and Fishing (UCP). As revealed by the Corriere del Ticino, hunters disagree with the culling plan proposed by the Canton as part of the late autumn hunt (from 15 November to 14 December), stating that there are too many deer to be killed. According to what has been established by the Office of Hunting and Fishing, 830 specimens must be killed. This is to limit the number of deer in the area to avoid excessive damage to crops. Furthermore, since the number of catches during the high hunt did not reach the set objectives, it is a question of continuing with the same strategy even during the late autumn hunt.
For its part, the FCTI had presented its own abatement plan. "It reached an altitude of 630" explained Marco Viglezio, vice president of the Federation to Corriere del Ticino. "This is a good 200 fewer animals than the canton's program, taking into consideration the population in the individual districts". This plan is also based on the federal directives and criteria used in Graubünden.
La deer hunting, Viglezio continues, “it must not become a fight without quarter, which lasts all year, day and night, only because over the years an expensive system of compensation for damage to game has been established in Ticino. The deer is an indigenous species that has re-colonized Ticino over the last few decades and, according to federal law, has the right to occupy its living spaces ”. There would also be no signs of an increase in the deer population as one would like to believe, Viglezio emphasizes, for which the FCTI considers the cantonal maneuver unjustified.
The reply from the Office of Hunting and Fishing is ready. The head of the office Giorgio Leoni explained to the newspaper that “there are specific objectives to be achieved in terms of abatements. We have a duty to respect and defend the interests of all actors, not least those of those who live off agriculture and suffer significant damage from ungulates ”. In this regard, Leoni points out that the Canton paid around 1,3 million francs for compensation due to the damage of ungulates.
In a letter sent last week to hunters enrolled in the autumn hunt, Leoni states that all the necessary information and the number of heads per district that should be killed have been provided. “The UCP puts its hands forward, stating that the abatement plan is ambitious and objectively difficult to achieve. We are waiting for the results and everyone will be able to draw their own conclusions when the bowls are still.
Ticino News
28.10.2014