Blog and Community Awareness

• Posted: 01 July 2026

A reminder! If a person has an European Weapon Pass (EWP) they must sign the bottom of the picture page, the EWP is not valid without signature. Please be sure yours is signed.

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• Posted: 01 July 2026

Executive Summary

Effective Date

May 1, 2026

Former Restriction Zone I

Bounty Payments Terminated. No further shooting premiums will be issued by the district (RTK) or the state (HMLU) for wild boars harvested in this area.

New Restriction Zone I (Formerly Zone II)

Bounty Payments Active. Hunters in this zone remain eligible for the full premium amount at the existing rate.

Underlying Factors

1. District budget constraints regarding voluntary financial services.2. Veterinary assessments and the easing of restrictions on commercializing wild boar meat.

Upcoming Actions

The local Veterinary Office will publish detailed administrative guidelines during the first week of May 2026.

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Subject: Update on Wild Boar Bounty Payments in the Rheingau-Taunus District (RTK)

Date: April 30, 2026

The Rheingau-Taunus District administration has received multiple inquiries regarding whether the shooting premium (bounty) for wild boar will continue to be paid out in the former Restriction Zone I.

Effective May 1, 2026, a new general decree enters into force, following the European Union's approval of the area's downgrading application. The official decree can be accessed via the following link: Official Announcement on Combatting African Swine Fever - Demarcation of Areas and Veterinary Measures within Restriction Zone I.

For planning and compliance purposes, the district administration has announced that effective May 1, 2026, the RTK will NO longer pay out shooting premiums for wild boar harvested in the former Restriction Zone I.

This decision is driven by the district's budgetary constraints regarding "voluntary public services," a technical evaluation conducted by the local Veterinary Office, and the newly simplified options for marketing and utilizing wild boar meat in the downgraded zone.

Information obtained from the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (HMLU) confirms that the state also does not plan to continue bounty payments in free, non-restricted areas.

However, this policy change does not affect the new Restriction Zone I (formerly Zone II). In this designated zone, the wild boar bounty will continue to be paid out in full at the current established rate.

The local Veterinary Office is scheduled to release additional details regarding these measures in the coming week.

The district administration expressed gratitude for the public's understanding and noted its interest in continuing successful cooperation with local stakeholders.

Source: https://newsletter.jagdverein-rheingau.de/r/dtGX4MS7346ms394.html