Hunting safety: essential rules
The universal rules of firearm handling and collective organisation for safe hunting.
Safety is a core requirement of hunting practice in Switzerland. Unlike the rules on protected species and hunting periods, the Federal Act of 20 June 1986 on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds (Hunting Act, SR 922.0) and its implementing ordinance (SR 922.01) do not set out detailed behavioural safety rules for the field: these rules are a cantonal responsibility, defined in each canton's own regulations and built into the training that prepares candidates for the cantonal hunting exam, and amount to good practice taught almost universally in that training. Some of these firearm-handling rules are regarded as universal and must be observed in every circumstance, regardless of the canton. A firearm must always be treated as loaded, even when it is believed to be empty. The muzzle must be kept pointed in a safe direction at all times, never towards a person, a dwelling or a public route. A finger should only rest on the trigger at the precise moment of firing, never before. A shot should only be taken once the target has been positively identified and what lies beyond it has been assessed, to avoid ricochets or shots fired in a dangerous direction. The firearm must be transported unloaded before and after the hunting action, and cased where possible, in line with federal firearms legislation. Alcohol consumption is incompatible with handling a firearm; some cantons specifically regulate or penalise this in their own safety provisions. Beyond individual handling, the collective organisation of a hunt — particularly a driven hunt or a group outing — is likewise subject to precise safety rules. A prior briefing must set out the areas allocated to each participant, the permitted and prohibited firing angles, and the agreed signals, whether acoustic or by radio, marking the start and end of the action. High-visibility clothing or equipment may be required by the canton, particularly for group hunts or those near frequently used areas. Safety distances from dwellings, public roads and footpaths, together with permitted firing directions, are set by cantonal regulation and must be checked before every outing. Every participant in an organised hunting action bears individual responsibility for observing these rules, regardless of the collective organisation in place. The precise arrangements that apply — compulsory equipment, the organisation of driven hunts, safety distances and penalties for breaches — fall under cantonal law and must be checked with the relevant cantonal hunting service before every outing; this good practice and these cantonal rules, taught during preparation for the hunting exam, form the basis of safety in the field.