In the context of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis and related governmental measures, the Luxembourgish authorities have confirmed that hunting remains permitted on an individual basis.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Nature and Forest Agency of Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development offered clarification on special measures taken in relation to hunting during the current crisis.

The statement confirmed that, in the exceptional conditions linked to coronavirus, the exercise of hunting (within the regulatory limits of the opening of the hunting season) remains authorised, provided that it is exercised on an individual basis. The hunting exercise must imperatively be done without any gathering and subject to respecting an interpersonal distance of two metres.

Regarding the legal procedure concerning damage to game, the Nature and Forest Agency has been advising from the start of the coronavirus crisis that people affected by a case of game damage carry out the site visit alone, and not in a group, but preferably on the same day. Following the receipt of a written or verbal declaration to its secretary-treasurer of a case of damage by a declarant, as provided for in the hunting law, the college of trustees is in charge of organising these individual visits, while carrying out the first visit themselves (a single representative or several if needed, but then separately) in order to make the first estimate of the damage, as provided for in the law relating to hunting.

Thereafter, the persons concerned may discuss solutions by telephone or via a web-based application in order to find an amicable settlement provided for by law, based on the first estimate of the college of trustees.

Most files relating to game damage should be settled in this way. If, however, within one month of the statement made by the injured party, an amicable settlement has not been reached, the file can be transmitted to the court magistrate, whose responsibility it is to define the procedure in relation to any additional field visits.