Big trouble in the district

Horror pictures: Hunter shoots sharply against colleagues

Skeletons and carcasses: even professional crime scene cleaners had to arrive.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Kerschbaummayr (Symbolbild), zVg)

Carcasses in tubs, skeletons lying around - the conditions around a property in the Graz area are said to have been so gruesome that even a professional crime scene clean-up was necessary. But who is telling the truth in this hunting thriller?

Horrific images are currently circulating on social media and keeping the authorities busy: dead deer, animal carcasses in troughs, skeletal remains. "This is how the previous tenant left the place," claims the hunter who now owns the affected leasehold in the Graz area. "The colleague shot the entire hunting ground empty. He only killed the animals, he didn't utilize them."

"He tarnishes us hunters"
This accuser, who explicitly does not want his name mentioned in the newspaper but refers to his noble lineage, has already filed charges against his predecessor. "But everything is swept under the carpet because he is so well connected. But someone like that shouldn't even have a gun in his hand, his hunting license should be revoked. He's tarnishing us hunters, he's simply wiping out lives."

Skeletons and carcasses: even professional crime scene cleaners had to arrive.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Kerschbaummayr (Symbolbild), zVg)

Elephants on the hit list
Curious: the very man making these accusations poses with wild animals on a safari video. Including a crocodile that apparently has no escape route - and is shot. "It was shot sick," the man justifies himself when asked by Krone. He also kills giraffes and elephants in Africa - "I stand by that".

However, the accused previous tenant has an explanation for the alleged scandal surrounding the animal remains: "I left the property without any carcasses. But: In previous years, hunters have repeatedly brought me dead animals such as fallen game for recycling or taxidermy. Some of them may have continued to do so when I was already gone. The conditions were freely accessible, I hadn't been at the farm myself for a year and a half!"

Where do the attacks come from?
Where do the attacks come from? "I can't explain it. At best, it's because the hunting ground will be reallocated later and he might be worried that I'll come back."

The district governor responsible certainly cannot be accused of "sweeping things under the carpet". "We checked it in all directions, including hunting law, and the official vet was also on site," emphasizes Andreas Weitlaner.

"Carcasses were there, but it will be difficult to prove who brought them." In short: "Nothing tangible remains. And there is no question of revoking the hunting license."