Gamekeepers See explanation of the designation of:

Persons entitled to hunt are responsible for ensuring that hunting is protected (‘hunting protection’ [Jagdschutz]) either personally or through gamekeepers and professional hunters. As a public supervisory officer, a gamekeeper has numerous powers, including those of stop, search and arrest.

Austrian citizenship; age of majority, decision-making capacity and no valid representation according to Section 1034 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB); possession of a valid Tyrolean hunting permit; mental and physical aptitude for the tasks connected with hunting protection, and the good repute required therefor (no serious infringement or repeated infringements of hunting regulations in the last 3 years; no express termination of the hunting lease in the last 3 years; no criminal conviction for a deliberate offence punishable by more than 1 year's imprisonment or for a punishable offence against life and limb, freedom, the property of others, the environment, sexual integrity and self-esteem, or cruelty to animals, unless the conviction has been expunged or is subject to the restriction on the provision of criminal record information in accordance with the expungement regulations or comparable regulations of another state); professional aptitude (professionally qualified); regular, continuous and sufficient exercise of hunt protection. Persons who have successfully completed or passed the professional hunter’s examination or a recognised training course or examination are considered to be professionally qualified.

If the recognised training course or examination was completed or passed more than 3 years prior to the appointment, the person can only be deemed to be professionally qualified if they have attended a further training course or taken part in a recognised activity within this period.

Persons who are in possession of a valid Tyrol hunting permit, who were in possession of a Tyrol hunting permit or a hunting permit from another province or country in the five hunting seasons preceding admission, have completed a training course for gamekeepers, have worked at least 250 hours in hunting grounds, and know how to administer first aid, may apply for admission to the gamekeeper’s examination. Examinations taken in other provinces or countries in accordance with the legal provisions there may replace the gamekeeper’s examination in whole or in part if these can be regarded as equivalent to the examination subject matter and the examination requirements. If only the practical shooting test is missing, this can be remedied upon application. Nevertheless, a supplementary examination must always be taken on the subject of

‘Knowledge of hunting regulations with special regard to the tasks as a hunting protection supervisor, including hunting correspondence with authorities and knowledge of the law regarding forestry, conservation, animal protection, plant protection and weapons required for the fulfilment of the tasks as a hunting protection supervisor’, as well as on the subject of ‘Knowledge of game and game-keeping, consideration of national cultural interests, game diseases, knowledge of hunting in practice, shooting plans and management of hunting areas, and of the organisation and conduct of searches’, limited to precise knowledge of the individual wild species present in the province of Tyrol. The chair of the respective examination committee will decide on the scope of the supplementary examination to be taken in the admission notice.

Birth certificate; CV; proof of possession of a valid Tyrol hunting permit; proof of possession of a Tyrol hunting permit or a hunting permit from another province or country in the 5 years preceding the application; confirmation of participation in a training course organised by the Tyrolean Hunting Association (Tiroler Jägerverband); proof of at least 250 hours’ work in hunting grounds in the 5 years preceding the application; certificate of participation in a first-aid course (minimum 16 hours’ training) in the 5 years preceding the application; certificate of an gamekeeper’s examination or equivalent.

Administrative charges; fees in accordance with the Fees Act (Gebührengesetz); examination fee: EUR 50.00.

• Tyrolean state government, Abteilung Landwirtschaftliches Schulwesen und Landwirtschaftsrecht

The application does not have to be signed electronically – using a mobile phone signature (Handy-Signatur) or E-ID – or by hand. 

A gamekeeper appointed by the hunting permit holder becomes a hunting protection supervisor through confirmation by the district administrative authority. This requires the submission of a medical certificate confirming that the professional hunter has the mental and physical aptitude to perform the tasks associated with hunting protection.

Sections 30 et seq. of the Tyrolean Hunting Act (Tiroler Jagdgesetz) 2004, Provincial Law Gazette (LGBl.) No 41, last amended by LGBl. No 116/2020; Section 3 (gamekeeper’s examination) of the First Implementing Regulation (Erste Durchführungsverordnung) to the Tyrolean Hunting Act 2004, LGBl. No 118/2015 last amended by LGBl. No 63/2016.

The profession of gamekeeper, as defined by the Tyrolean Hunting Act 2004, LGBl. No 41, is aligned with the qualification level under Article 11(b)(i) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

National Advice Centre for Vocational Qualifications (Nationales Beratungszentrum für Berufsqualifikationen)

Federal Minister of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft)

Mag. Irene Linke

Stubenring 1, 1010 Wien

Phone: +43 1 71100-805446

E-Mail: irene.linke@oesterreich.gv.at