Grünau - where hunting is at home

Grünau is getting closer, the hall plans are filling up - even more exhibitors are expected this year than in 2022 - and the exclusive guest list is also getting richer every day with prominent names. So far, the list includes not only patron Michaela Kaniber, Bavarian Minister of State for Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Bavaria's Deputy Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger, who will honour the hunters and marksmen on Saturday, 14 October, and the representatives of the House of Wittelsbach HRH Prince Leopold and Prince Wolfgang of Bavaria. The organiser is also pleased to welcome for the first time this year three presidents of regional hunting associations, Ernst Weidenbusch (Bavaria), Dr Jörg Friedmann (Baden-Württemberg) and Toni Larcher (Tyrol), as well as the new President of the German Hunting Association (DJV), Helmut Dammann-Tamke, and DJV Vice President Nicole Heitzig.

Centre of the hunters

The regional hunting associations and the DJV present themselves together under the auspices of the Bavarian Hunting Association (BJV) on a special area of 600 square metres. The hunting association hall (Hall 4) is a meeting place and information platform, here in the "centre of hunters" hunting visitors from all regions of Germany and beyond come together to exchange ideas. On the integrated action stage, top-class discussion rounds, panel discussions and lectures on current topics from hunting policy, hunting practice and hunting customs take place every day.

Many innovations from the weapons and optics sector

The approximately 450 renowned exhibitors from Germany and abroad, including numerous manufacturers of leading international brands in the weapons and optics industry, will present not only their tried and tested products, but also their innovations, so that the trade fair is increasingly becoming the focus of specialist dealers.

In Grünau, the many technical innovations will be brought together with traditional craftsmanship in the hunting environment, true to the motto of the family-run company Reich Messen GmbH "Preserving customs - shaping the future". "With us, visitors can watch a chamois beard being tied, leather trousers being embroidered or a bascule being engraved and get advice on the latest thermal imaging technology or game camera at the stand next to it, before moving on to the next exhibition tent to try on a smart janker or hunting hat and then on to enjoy game specialities and other delicacies with brass band music and beer in the festival tent or castle beer garden," explains project manager Leopold Reich. "From the very beginning, we have placed great emphasis on quality rather than quantity."

Popular with visitors from near and far

In Grünau, however, it is not only the trade visitors who get their money's worth; the fair is also a unique experience for the numerous non-hunting visitors and for everyone whose heart beats for nature, country life and Bavarian cosiness. Its magic is particularly due to the venue around the former hunting lodge of the Wittelsbach dynasty in the middle of nature - where hunting is at home. The fact that the hunting dogs and birds of prey are presented here in the open air, as well as the rousing supporting programme with performances and marches by various hunting horn groups, the Scottish Drum and Pipe Band, the Mountain and Boeller Shooters, the Federal Music Band Angath Tyrol with a shooting delegation, the Star March of the brass bands or the Hubertus Mass in the castle courtyard make Germany's largest outdoor fair for hunters and shooters so popular with visitors from near and far.

New highlights in the fair programme

And this year the organisers are going one better: the dog village in cooperation with the BJV will be even bigger this year, with 43 hunting dog breeds taking part, including Westphalian Terrier, Spinone Italiano and Slovakian Hound for the first time. Also new this year is a puppy course organised by the Bezirksjagdverband Regensburg. This association has developed its own "Puppy Guide", which will be presented at the BJV stand in Pagoda 1 of the Dog Village. In the large hunting association hall (Hall 4), some dog handlers from the series of "confirmed tracking teams" will also be represented for the first time this year, providing information about their important work. Another highlight of the fair is the big hunting horn concert on Sunday in the inner courtyard of the castle, for which even more horn groups are expected this time than last year. In 2022, more than 300 hunting horns shone in the sun, their brilliant sound echoing off the castle walls and giving many listeners goose bumps.

Second Federal Hunting Women's Day

This year, too, the brass concert will be the crowning finale of the fair and the Federal Women Hunters' Day, which will take place for the second time in Grünau on Sunday, 15 October, embedded in the events of the fair. "Since the proportion of women within the green guild is steadily increasing, it is a matter of course for us to devote the deserved attention to female hunters and to offer them the appropriate forum," says Managing Director Hubertus Reich. And so, on this day, there will again be some extras and offers as well as special advice at the exhibition stands for the hunting women beyond the existing exhibition programme.

Raffle of a Sauer 404 Artemis

The absolute highlight of the huntress day will be the drawing of the winner from Sauer's raffle campaign: an S 404 Artemis will be raffled off among all participants who register online at the trade fair on Sunday. The stock, pistol grip and trigger guard of this Sauer premium huntress rifle have been specially optimised for women's hands. Entry cards are available at the cash desk and at the Hunting Queen stand in Hall 5. "We are very pleased that we obviously succeed time and again in offering in Grünau exactly what hunters expect from a hunting fair, where they feel at home and where they find themselves," emphasises Hans-Joachim Reich, founder and spiritus rector of the fair.