Fall is peak hunting season in Austria—red deer rutting, more hunters in the hunting grounds, and startled game make walks in the woods with a dog riskier than at other times of the year. Anyone who lets their dog run free not only risks an administrative fine but, under certain circumstances, even the dog being shot by an authorized hunter.

Hunting laws in Austria are a matter for the individual states—each of the nine federal states defines in its own hunting law when a dog is considered to be “poaching” and what a hunter is permitted to do in such a case. Anyone out in the woods with a dog in the fall should be familiar with these basics—especially if muzzles or leashes are already part of their daily routine.

Why is fall in the woods especially risky for dogs?

Because hunting does indeed take place in the fall, and game becomes more restless and easier to flush out during the red deer rut in September and October.

Unlike the spring breeding and nesting season—during which many federal states mandate a general leash requirement to protect young animals—fall is not a closed season specifically regulated by law. The real risk lies elsewhere: Hunters are actually out in the hunting grounds during the current hunting season; roe deer and red deer are more agitated and more likely to flee due to the rutting season; and a dog that chases after a startled animal becomes, at that very moment, a “poaching dog” as defined by the respective state hunting law.

Is there a general leash requirement in the woods during the fall?

No, not across the board—but a year-round duty of care applies in every federal state, and individual authorities may enact additional local regulations.

According to most state dog ownership laws—such as those in Upper Austria—there is generally no blanket leash requirement in the forest, but there is a requirement to keep the dog under control so that neither people nor animals are endangered. In Carinthia, district administrations and municipal authorities may issue their own annual regulations requiring dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash outside built-up areas—usually citing breeding and nesting seasons or snow conditions that make it harder for wildlife to escape. In Vienna, the municipal government may issue an ordinance mandating the use of muzzles or leashes in areas where there is documented damage to wildlife caused by dogs.

When is a dog considered to be “poaching”?

If he chases, pursues, or kills game—or, depending on the state, is already in the hunting area unsupervised and out of earshot of his owner.

There are significant differences among the federal states in this regard: In Burgenland and Lower Austria, simply roaming unsupervised in a hunting area is considered a threat—the dog does not even have to actively chase the game. In Styria, the bar is set much higher: there, the dog must actually be chasing game for the conditions to be met.

Is a hunter allowed to shoot my dog in the fall?

Under strict conditions specified in the respective state hunting law, yes—except for certified service dogs, such as guide dogs, which may never be killed.

The right to kill dogs that are poaching in hunting grounds is a long-standing provision of Austrian hunting law and exists to varying degrees in all federal states. In Lower Austria, under the State Hunting Law, licensed hunters are even required to kill a dog that is hunting without permission if it is outside the calling range of its owner within the hunting area. The burden of proof for the legality of the killing lies with the hunter—he must report the incident to the district administrative authority and, in the event of a dispute, be able to provide evidence, such as through witnesses or photographs. The dog owner also receives an administrative fine for violating the Hunting Act; incidentally, a common misconception is that the killed dog then becomes the hunter’s property—this is not the case under the law.

What are the specific rules between September and March?

In Styria, simply hunting between September and March is not enough—there must also be an increased threat to wildlife.

This is one of the few state regulations that explicitly distinguishes between the actual hunting season and the rest of the year. In practice, according to the Styrian State Hunting Association, this means that the dog must be on the verge of actually seizing its prey before killing it would be justified at all—and even then, the recommendation is to first notify the dog’s owner several times before intervening. In most other states, this seasonal distinction does not exist, which means the legal situation varies from forest to forest and from state to state.

How can I keep my dog safe in the woods during hunting season?

Put your dog on a leash, stay on marked trails, and make sure to train your dog to come when called before hunting season begins.

A reliable recall prevents the dog from ever finding itself in a situation where it is perceived as “hunting.” Anyone who still wants to let their dog off-leash should only do so in places where off-leash running is actually permitted and where the dog remains under control at all times. A GPS tracker on the collar also makes it clear that the dog has an owner and is not wandering around stray. Especially for breeds with a strong hunting instinct or in areas known for wildlife damage, it also makes sense to to intentionally include a leash and—where a muzzle is already part of daily life—the muzzle as an additional safety measure for walks in the woods, even if it is not always legally required there.

Conclusion: In the fall, caution is more important than trusting your own dog

In Austria, the legal requirement to keep dogs on a leash in the woods is a matter for the individual states, and the rules are not generally tightened in the fall—the real risk stems from actual hunting activities and the red deer rut, which makes wildlife more unpredictable. Anyone walking in the woods with a dog in the fall should therefore play it safe, regardless of the specific state regulations: keep the dog on a leash, stay on the trails, and practice the recall command—and when in doubt, it’s better to be too cautious than too late.