What is open, wildlife region by wildlife region
The canton publishes the open/closed status by animal category and region, updated through the season.
Schwyz publishes not just a species list but an open-status table by animal category and wildlife region — Rigi, Muota, Mitte, Ausserschwyz — updated during the season. The status published on 1 September 2026 shows how to read it. For red deer, the adult stag and the spiker whose antlers rise above ear height are protected in all four regions; the spiker below that height and the Kahlwild — hind, yearling hind, calf and male calf — are open. A quota rule links the two: whoever takes three head of Kahlwild within a wildlife region is entitled to shoot a multi-tined stag in that same region. For chamois the buck is protected, while the barren doe and the yearling are open. The same mechanism applies: whoever takes a barren doe or a yearling below 1,400 metres is entitled to shoot a buck below 1,400 metres — above that altitude the buck is generally protected. For wild boar everything is open except the lactating sow, which is protected.