Hunting in the Kaisertal

Kufstein puts billionaire in front of the door

Gut Hofing was used as a hunting lodge, but the 400-year-old farm is now closed.(Bild: zVg)

The municipality of Kufstein is determined to manage the Kaisertal Hunt itself, with the Greens as the driving force. A decision on this was extremely close. 

Despite strained municipal finances, the town of Kufstein wants to manage its hunt itself in future: a narrow majority decision at the municipal council meeting in Kufstein on Wednesday rejects the re-letting of the Kaisertal hunt. This would cost the town around €300,000 per year, calculated Neos-LA and GR Birgit Obermüller and StR Richard Salzburger.

They submitted a motion to the municipal council to scrap this plan and put the hunt out to tender for re-letting. This was rejected by 11:10. "The town will not be able to manage the hunt any better than a long-standing leaseholder. We lack the financial means, the know-how and the human resources. Mr. Henkel has not only paid the hunting lease, he has also taken on the maintenance of huts and paths," Obermüller states.

Moreover, he cannot be held responsible for the lack of regeneration dynamics in the forest. Another curious aspect is that it is unclear how future hunting permit holders will get into the protected Kaisertal.