Geneva: hunting is banned by the constitution
Article 162 of the Geneva constitution prohibits hunting mammals and birds; only official wildlife regulation measures are reserved.
Geneva is the only Swiss canton where hunting is banned by the constitution. Article 162 of the constitution of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, headed “Hunting”, runs to two sentences: “Hunting mammals and birds is prohibited. Official wildlife regulation measures are reserved.” The ban dates from 1974: following a popular initiative launched by animal protection groups, the Geneva electorate voted to prohibit hunting across the whole cantonal territory. It was later carried into the constitution. There is therefore no hunting licence, no permit and no open season in Geneva. A hunter arriving from another canton has no hunting right to assert here.