Hunters, hunting enthusiasts, outdoor enthusiasts, dog lovers, nature lovers and families are already looking forward to JAGD & HUND 2024 which is set to offer information on all the latest trends, new products and challenges of hunting between 30 January and 4 February 2024. This year, Europe's largest hunting show will make hunters' hearts beat faster with exciting new on-site events and a line-up of special exhibition features including the 'Wildlocker Championship – Calling Contest for Small Game'. Another new component will be the unique 'Hunting World' – an on-site shopping paradise for all the senses and with attractive trade show prices. There will also be a specialist Knife Zone with an accompanying programme and exhibition. This year, the focus will also be on the extended specialist content programme which will be bringing a host of high-interest topics to the stage in nearly all the halls, offering insights into international hunting practice.

Dortmund, 29 January 2024 – JAGD & HUND will be getting underway again at the end of January, featuring a great number of top exhibitors from all over the world including all the big names from countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, China, Canada, Mongolia, Namibia, South Africa, the US and Zimbabwe.

Wide variety of products: top exhibitors and major brands from all over the world

Global players such as Zeiss and Bresser will be there with modern optical equipment and the latest thermal imaging technology. Swarovski Optik and the Blaser Group will also not be missing Europe's largest hunting show in 2024. A wide range of raised hides will be exhibited by Hochsitz Geis and others. Frankonia will be presenting a wide range of hunting and shooting requisites as well as the latest outdoor fashions. Visitors can also look forward to hunting fashions from NOSLA. New to the show will be businesses including Stellfeld & Ernst with a wide range of barbecue grills and accessories, and Danish company Deerhunter which supplies hard-wearing woodland clothing. Other international businesses will include ThermFox of Switzerland and Night Pearl (Záhoří Trade) from the Czech Republic, both offering innovative thermal imaging technology. In Logistics from Poland will be bringing various off-road trailers to the show, and various dog accessories will be exhibited by Monkeys Theatre from Austria. High-quality leather-wear will be shown by Little Man from Italy and Balog Sándor from Hungary, among others. Forestry and hunting apparel will also be presented by Northern Hunting from Denmark, Edinburgh Outdoorwear from the UK, Uab 'Rypo Grupe' from Lithuania and VISIONA Investments S.à.r.l. from Luxembourg. Nice hunting headgear will be shown by vernet (chapo-T) from France, and Tapel from Romania will be offering hunting rucksacks packed with convenient design details. Backlanz Ltd from New Zealand will surely be among those who have travelled the furthest and will be showing its beautifully designed hunting sticks.

New side events and speciality zones in 2024

JAGD & HUND 2024 will see the launch of a new championship to watch, cheer on and take part in: In order to raise awareness of the challenging sport of animal calling, hunting store 'OVIS', hunting magazine 'Our Hunt – On Home Turf' and JAGD & HUND will be organising a game calling competition for the first time in the disciplines of greylag goose, crow and fox. At the Small Game Calling Contest in Hall 4, a panel of judges will assess the participants' calls and award high-value prizes to the winners. Applications to participate in this new contest may be submitted at www.ovis.de/callingcontest.

Collectors, users and aficionados will find a wide range of hunting knives – from traditional to modern – on display in the new Knife Zone. This new special exhibition feature in Hall 7 is being supported by the German Blade Museum in Solingen. The programme will be accompanied by panel discussions on legal matters and exchanges of ideas on knife care and the 'perfect steel for knives'. In addition, those interested in high-quality blades will also have opportunities to meet hunting knife suppliers and experts. An award will also be presented by a panel of expert judges in the new event area. The award ceremony will be held on stage in Hall 7 at 15:30 hrs on 3 February 2024. An audience award will also be presented.

New 'Hunting World' ('Jagdwelt') shopping zone – a full 3,000 sqm of retail therapy (Hall 8)

In conjunction with hunting outfitter Jagdwelt24, JAGD & HUND will present visitors to Europe's largest hunting show with an extensive modern line-up of products and an exceptional shopping world. At the new Jagdwelt / Hunting World, equipment and innovations will be able to be tried out on the spot – using all the senses. For example, there will be a test course for shoes featuring a variety of floor coverings as well as various targets for testing optics. The product range at Jagdwelt / Hunting World will include weapons, thermal imaging cameras, riflescopes, roof tents, equipment for dogs and their handlers, gear, silencers, game cameras (including an exclusive new product from ICUserver), clothing and footwear. What makes this so special are the state-of-the-art shopping facilities combining shopping opportunities with competent advice as well as unbeatable trade show specials, a home shopping service and the ultimate in after-sales service. Among the well-known brands in the new area will be Anschütz, HIKMICRO, Schmidt & Bender, Wild Land Drivers, Farm-Land, ICU, Roedale, Härkila, Deerhunter and Arxus plus a host of other top exhibitors! Open-air kitchens also provide special culinary experiences at Jagdwelt / Hunting World. with masters of their trade conjuring up delicacies to sample, fortify and savour in small, convivial groups.

Even more expertise and skills training for real-life hunting

The specialist content programme at JAGD & HUND covers the entire spectrum of the hunting scene. Various informative talks, panels and seminars on current developments, legal fundamentals and the diversity of the hunting industry will be held throughout the show on almost all the stages, with recognised experts sharing their knowledge, offering interesting insights and stimulating discussion.

One highlight is likely to be 'Huntsmanship 2.0 – Hunting in social media' with Nicole Heitzig, President of the State Hunting Association of North Rhine Westphalia, and Dreispross, the well-known video film production by hunter Andreas Barth. FACE – the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU – is joining with the German Hunting Association (DJV) in organising a panel discussion on Wolf Management. Guests will be FACE President Torbjörn Larsson and DJV President Helmut Dammann-Tamke. The recognised hunting duo Teppe & Schwenen will also address current issues and backgrounds relating to hunting with experts and policy makers covering topics such as 'From wokeness to huntsmanship' with Karlheinz Busen, member of the German federal parliament and hunting and forestry policy spokesman for the liberal party, FDP.

For the first time, the Working Gundog Association (JGHV) will be offering an interesting programme of talks in addition to its popular dog exhibitions and demonstrations. 'The Search for ASF Cadavers' with Anja Blank, a member of the JGHV Executive Committee and Chief Executive of the State Hunting Association of Mecklenburg & Western Pomerania, will be one of the speakers promising gripping insights. Lisa Meyer, Head of Training, will offer information on 'Early Development of Hunting Dogs – recommended by the JGHV. JGHV Animal Welfare Officer Prof Dr Franz-Josef Kaup will also give an explanatory talk entitled 'Infectious Diseases in Game'. A short seminar on 'The JGHV Examination System' by examination system chairman Josef Westermann, is also planned as part of JAGD & HUND (4 February 2024 in the Bergen Room, North Entrance complex). Registrations can now be made by emailing Josef.Westermann@jghv.de.

Botswana delegation to be welcomed in Dortmund

Numerous top exhibitors and visitors from all over the world are once again expected to attend JAGD & HUND, Europe's largest hunting show, in Dortmund between 30 January and 4 February 2024. A four-person delegation of high-ranking representatives from Botswana, including delegates from associations, NGOs and local communities, will also be coming to JAGD & HUND in the new year. The show organisers are delighted: “This visit is really very special and a great honour for us. The fact that representatives of the local communities in particular are joining us underlines just how important hunting is for Botswana from an economic and ecological point of view. At the same time, this event offers the ideal opportunity to discuss how hunting can be organised locally in such a way that communities can benefit as much as possible and flora and fauna can be protected to best effect. We are very proud that our partnership with Botswana, which began a year ago, has helped enable our show to be used now and in future as a forum for this kind of engagement,” said Sabine Loos, Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe which owns and operates the Messe Dortmund venue.

Introducing the next generation to nature

Together with other partners, the State Hunting Association of North Rhine Westphalia will also be inviting the little ones to embrace the adventures which nature has to offer. On the Lernort Natur adventure trail they will learn about chance encounters with wild animals, work with wood, and much more. The Essen Mobile Forest School will also be in action once again as part of the hunters' initiative. Trained members of the district hunters' association will introduce children and teenagers to the world of foxes, rabbits, beetles and forest flora, and train their understanding of the beauty of nature. The NRW Young Hunters will also be launching their own stage programme at the LJV stand. In addition to various presentations by young hunters especially for the next generation, there will also be a trade show competition with prizes totalling over EUR 6,000. There will also be a daily quiz with other attractive prizes. The Young Hunters also look forward to welcoming the DJV Women Hunters' Forum, thereby offering women hunters the opportunity for face-to-face professional dialogue. And on the Saturday of the show, the German National Professional Hunters' Association (BDB) will be inviting prospective trainees, parents and friends and everyone with an interest in training to the Training Day for Game Hunters (Newsroom 2) starting at 11:00 hrs.

Major anniversaries in the hunting world

25^th anniversary of the German Deer Calling Championships(Hall 4)

The German Deer Calling Championship initiated by WILD UND HUND magazine and JAGD & HUND will be celebrating a special anniversary on 2 February 2024 from 12:00 noon when Germany's best deer callers compete against each other on the main stage in Hall 4 for the 25^th time. The people taking part in the high art of call-and-lure hunting imitate various calls – an old, searching stag, a call duel between two equally strong stags at the height of the rut and the call of a victorious stag after the fight. High-value prizes await all entrants. In addition, the top three finishers will qualify for the European Deer Calling Championships to be held in Goraj, Poland, between 17 and 19 May 2024.

Hunting magazine 'WILD UND HUND' to celebrate its 130^th anniversary (Hall 4)

To mark the anniversary, visitors can look forward to a film review of the magazine's rich history and the opportunity to meet the magazine's editors, specialist authors and experts in person. They will also be providing expert insights into a wide range of hunting-related matters and look forward to a subsequent meet & greet with the hunting community. Animal-calling expert Klaus Demmel, habitat expert Werner Kuhn, dog trainer Anke Hessling, district hunting master Sascha Schmitt, wildlife biologist Burkhard Stöcker, shooting trainers Andreas Bach, Christian Schulte and many others will be live on stage. The winners of the 'Hunting Book of the Year' readers' competition and the winners of this year's WILD UND HUND wedge pin shooting certificate will also receive their awards on stage.

Perennial JAGD & HUND favourites

Beastly brilliance – air shows and demonstrations

Naturally, birds of prey and hunting dog breeds will take centre stage at JAGD & HUND once again, demonstrating their skills in Halls 3 and 4 in breathtaking falconry demonstrations by the Order of German Falconers and with the Working Gundog Association showing off faithful canine companions and working gundogs. Visitors to the show can relax to traditional hunting music played by brass bands in the event area in Hall 3 and on the special event stage in Hall 4.

As adrenaline-pumping as ever – the popular 4x4 off-road vehicle course

There will be a real off-road feeling again on the exciting off-road course in Hall 3 with powerful four-wheel-drive vehicles overcoming challenging obstacles as well as spectacular steep ascents and inclines. A must for all action freaks! Another petrol-head paradise at JAGD & HUND will definitely be the brand line-up featuring hunting-ready 4x4 off-roaders from a large number of well-known manufacturers, with Ineos, Tesla, Polaris, Land Rover and Subaru all showing off their models at the show. Equipment experts will also be showcasing their wide range of options. For example, Smartkamper from Poland can transform almost any minibus into a multifunctional hunting vehicle. Toms Fahrzeugtechnik will present customised off-road cruisers. DAKTEC is a specialist in tyres, accessories and professional off-road conversions. Rear transport systems for easy and hygienic removal of freshly killed game are what HECK-PACK will be bringing to the show. Also back in Dortmund will be Wild Land Drivers, a well-known supplier of roof tents and an experienced provider of customised vehicle conversions.

Culinary highlight – the WILD FOOD FESTIVAL

Visitors can expect incredible tastings and a wide range of delicious game products. Exhibitors such as game butcher 'Der Wilde Metzger', Bossmann Catering, Wildhandel König, Weingut Zöbel, Ankerkraut and chef's knife supplier Zwilling will be selling suitable ingredients and creative aperitif and recipe ideas as well as practical cooking accessories for the home kitchen. Highlights of the WILD FOOD FESTVAL are prominent TV celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs who will this year be delighting lovers of game cuisine with live cooking demonstrations and exclusive workshops. The exciting stage programme featuring celebrity chefs such as Johann Lafer and Brian Bojsen, Florian Conzen, Heiko Antoniewicz and Lukas Jacobi will inspire visitors to try out new dishes, also offering valuable practical tips for your own game cuisine. In the cookery workshops, game foodies can try their hand at cooking and learn how to prepare the perfect game dishes with top chefs in action – but as numbers are limited due to the exclusive nature of the programme, tickets should be purchased online in advance (jagdundhund.de/en-gb/wild-food-festival-programm). The 'menu' will include street food game dishes, a ragout of nutria with homemade gnocchi, grilled game, game steaks and game schnitzel, and there will also be a game sausage seminar.

The live cooking sessions on stage will present the culinary spectrum of game, woodland, field and meadow in numerous game dishes ranging from the down-to-earth to the downright exotic. Live dishes will include game schnitzel with an Asian touch, a new interpretation of game sausage and a pink venison sweetbread on Jerusalem artichokes with Brussels sprouts and plum jus. On top of this, there will be plenty of practical tips on how to cut game correctly. Showcasing their expertise and passion for game cuisine at the WILD FOOD FESTIVAL 2024 will be hunter couple Magdalene and Wolfgang Grabitz, game sommelier Michael Keller, graduate meat sommelier Christoph Grabowski, game cooking aficionados 'the Wildbakers', expert game chefs Ina Maria Klups, Christian Müller and Jan Urban, plus avid hunter and amateur chef Markus Hofman.

Entertainment and enjoyment will also be the order of the day for Ralf "Bob" Mechlinski, publisher of MEAT IN magazine, the guide to meat culture, in his stage programme. Under the banner 'BBQ goes wild', he will be serving up a celebration of international BBQ fusion cuisine, Tex-Mex food and fine Korean BBQ with venison and wild fowl. The WILD FOOD FESTIVAL stage will also present the tantalising culinary delights of 'Sikahirsch – the 'Wagyu' from the Sauerland' as well as live cooking for the audience to enjoy. Game chef Conrad Baierl a.k.a. 'Der Wilde Metzger' (the 'Game Butcher') and game cooking duo Magdalena and Wolfgang Grabitz will be providing information on the special high quality, consistency and preparation of the meat.

jagdundhund.de/en-gb/wild-food-festival-programm

Admission to the WILD FOOD FESTIVAL is already included in the JAGD & HUND ticket. The exclusive workshops with well-known TV and Michelin-starred chefs are among the special highlights of the WILD FOOD FESTIVAL and are available to be booked exclusively at jagdundhund.de/en-gb/tickets.

HORRDIO – the Social Media Area

HORRIDO in Hall 8 will offer social media-savvy hunters and hunting enthusiasts an attractive networking platform with popular bloggers and influencers in attendance. As well as the opportunity to engage and interact, the programme will also include various specialist talks. Every day (except Saturday), the video platform Hunt on Demand will also present free film premieres with high-quality content and great scenic images from the hunting world. Another special highlight will be the HORRIDO PARTY on 3 February 2024 complete with a spectacular laser show.

Donations for a good cause:

every shot a hit for the environment

Visitors looking to get involved will be able to put their marksmanship to the test at the shooting range of hunting ammunition manufacturer RWS while simultaneously generating a donation for animal, nature and environmental protection.

German Wildlife Rescue

For a donation, visitors can put their punching power to the test at the game-themed interpretation of the fairground classic “Ring the Bell”. The fundraising campaign was initiated by game butcher Conrad Baierl and 'Wild auf Wild' (= Game for Game) in aid of the German Wildlife Rescue organisation. The proceeds will be presented on the last day of the show. Last year, the initiative already raised EUR 500.

jagdundhund.de/en-gb/programm

JAGD & HUND to host the diverse world of societies and associations

In addition to the show experience itself, inspiration and dialogue are key aspects of any worthwhile visit to a show. Naturally, this also goes for visitors to JAGD & HUND, which will feature a wealth of associations again this year. As industry-specific forums, they undertake important public relations work and deal with the special challenges of the industry in a forward-looking manner. JAGD & HUND 2024 will be supported in terms of content and expertise by our conceptual partners, the State Hunting Association of North Rhine Westphalia (LJV) and the Working Gundog Association (JGHV). Further assistance in the form of a programme and local contacts will be provided by the German Hunting Association (DJV), the Rhineland Association of Private Hunting Landowners & Hunting Cooperatives (RVEJ), the Association of Hunting Cooperatives & Private Hunting Grounds (VJE) and the German Bowhunting Association (DBJV). International assistance will be on hand from the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE), the International Council for Game & Wildlife Conservation (CIC)and the European Bowhunting Federation (EBF). All organisations will also hold groundbreaking general meetings and sessions at the show as part of JAGD & HUND.

Press Planner: Invitation to expert talks on topical hunting issues

As last year, JAGD & HUND will be offering press representatives lots of inspiring content and options for exclusive interviews with experts on relevant, current and social topics related to hunting. For example 'Wildlife Economy in Africa: what hunting means for the protection of species, climate and people' with Isaac Theophilus, Head of Public Relations & Communications at Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, Isaac Theophilus, representative of the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, Ditiro Mmereki, representative of the Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (NCONGO) and Stephan Wunderlich, an expert on foreign hunting at the CIC. Dr Walter Jäcker, Deputy Legal Advisor at the NRW State Hunting Association, and Michael Leutner, horse school operator, hippologist and author, will be on hand to share their expertise on  'The right way to deal with wolves: from fear to acceptance'. An interview entitled 'Backstage deer callers: in dialogue with the stag' with Heiko Hornung, editor-in-chief of WILD UND HUND, also promises to be of interest. In addition to interview slots at the show, other exciting press events will be presented in the Press Planner. These will include the  talk and discussion event entitled 'Elephants and people: human rights – animal rights and the call for ethics' by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) on 30 January 2024 starting at 17:00 hrs. Press representatives will find a full overview of all the topics on offer, including points of contact, at jagdundhund.de/en-gb/press. Registration is required at presse@jagdundhund.de.

Ticket options for JAGD & HUND – Europe's largest hunting show

Whether as a gift for yourself or for loved ones, day passes costing from EUR 20 (adults) give you the entire show package complete with informative talks, interesting demonstrations and shows, the opportunity to talk to experts and meet well-known stars in the industry as well as a wide variety of exhibitors.

jagdundhund.de/en-gb/tickets

Other interesting and important notes:

Collectors will love them

The coveted show badges will be on sale at the North Entrance – while stocks last.

Bringing dogs

All dogs are welcome, but must be shown to have been vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to the show (vaccination card must be presented).

Important note on travelling to the event

Due to the increased volume of traffic during the show, we recommend you enter 'Maurice-Vast-Straße' as the destination address in your satnav. From this destination address, local signposting will direct you to the appropriate car parking facilities.