Hunters in the North Rhine-Westphalia area in Germany can now use sound suppressors for their hunting rifles. The Ministry of Interior has regulated this in a decree to the The Federal Hunting Act. 

You may ask why this is important to you, but there are some very interesting and important quotes from high ranking officials if you continue reading.

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection has announced:

“This decision was long overdue. It’s about reducing the muzzle blast to effectively protect the hearing of hunters and their dogs “said Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul.

The Minister of Agriculture in North Rhine-Westphalia Christina Schulze Föcking welcomed the decision. “The bottom line is a big plus for the health of the hunters – with no loss of security,” said the minister.

There are concerns that the use of suppressors could affect people’s safety, but both ministers disregard this and comment:  “The experience from other states and states shows that these concerns are groundless. Totally silent shooting as in movies is not possible with suppressors, the shot is still clearly heard, “said Minister Reul.

All this was reported in the Land.nrw North Rhine-Westphalia portal.

TFB has earlier reported about other regions in Germany that allow suppressors, for instance Bavaria.

Some other areas that allow suppressors are the states of Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Pfanz, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein.

You can find more in-depth information at Roedale for instance.

If you’re interested in the latest in European Firearms legislation you can check Gunsweeks’s latest article.

Above and below you can see a Tikka T3x TAC A1 hunting rifle with an ASE Utra SL7i Suppressor and an ASE Utra AU761 Bore Lock for Quick-Detatch.