FACE - European Federation for Hunting and Conservation

01/06/2026

Dear Members and supporters,
May has been another busy month for FACE, with significant activity across several of our core policy and conservation priorities.
At European level, work continues on key legislative and policy files, including lead in ammunition under REACH, the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Birds and Habitats Directives “Stress Test”, and the ongoing evaluation of the Fi****ms Directive. These files will have significant implications for hunters in the years ahead, and FACE remains actively engaged to ensure that the interests of Europe’s 7 million hunters are fully represented.
At the same time, we continue to strengthen the evidence base underpinning sustainable hunting. A good example is the launch of the first European Quail Monitoring Days, bringing together hunters and scientists from six countries in a coordinated effort to improve knowledge of this important migratory species. This initiative demonstrates the commitment of Europe’s hunters to conservation, monitoring, and science-based management.
Finally, the month was marked by an important milestone in Albania, with FACE and other organisations participating in a high-level roundtable that supported our Member’s efforts to establish a modern framework for sustainable hunting and wildlife management. The event highlighted the growing recognition that effective conservation requires strong governance, local engagement, and responsible wildlife management.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope you enjoy the May report.
Warm regards,
Dr. David Scallan
FACE Secretary General
👉 Read more here: https://www.face.eu/report/

01/06/2026

The FACE Report is Out – Read Our May Update!

Your monthly update on Europe's political and hunting agenda

29/05/2026

Supporting Hunter Education Through EU LEADER Funding: The SimWay Experience Simway
👉 https://www.face.eu/2026/05/supporting-hunter-education-through-eu-leader-funding-the-simway-and-finland-experience/
In Finland, SimWay teamed up with the Finnish Hunters’ Association to see how LEADER funding could support hunter education and how to share these success stories. For example, in northern Finland, a small community joined forces with local hunting clubs to buy a simulator through LEADER funding. Today, that simulator is a shared training hub for local hunters and young people.
🤝 FACE is proud to have SimWay Hunt as a FACE Patron.
A sincere thank you to SimWay Hunt for supporting FACE and helping us strengthen the voice of Europe’s hunters and conservationists.

Across Europe, hunting associations are looking for practical ways to help hunters improve their skills in safe

29/05/2026

🦌🚜 Protecting wildlife starts with cooperation.
As the mowing season begins, the Lithuanian Hunters and Fishermen Association Lietuvos medžiotojų ir žvejų draugija is once again calling for joint action to protect roe deer fawns hiding in tall grass.
Every year, thousands of young wild animals are accidentally killed during agricultural operations. However, many of these losses can be prevented.
Hunters are offering free assistance by using thermal drones to locate fawns before mowing begins, giving farmers the opportunity to avoid tragic accidents and save wildlife.
🌱 The initiative “Don’t Let the Roe Deer Fawn Be Mowed Down 2026” continues to grow, bringing together hunters, farmers, conservationists and protected area authorities in a shared effort to safeguard biodiversity.
🤝 This is conservation in action: practical cooperation, modern technology and a common commitment to protecting wildlife.
A great example from Lithuania of how hunters contribute to biodiversity conservation beyond hunting itself.

29/05/2026

🐻 A tourist has been injured after being attacked by a brown bear on Romania’s famous Transfăgărășan mountain road.
According to Romanian media reports, the man stopped near a roadside bear and attempted to feed the animal from his vehicle. The situation quickly escalated when the bear approached the car and attacked, causing serious injuries to the tourist’s arm.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and the victim was transported to hospital for treatment.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
For years, wildlife authorities, conservationists and hunting organisations have warned about the growing problem of bears becoming habituated to people along popular tourist routes. When bears repeatedly receive food from humans, they gradually lose their natural wariness. Instead of avoiding roads, vehicles and settlements, they begin to actively seek them out.
The result is a dangerous situation for everyone involved.
People often see these animals as an opportunity for photographs, videos or close encounters. The bear, however, learns a different lesson: cars mean food.
The consequences can be tragic.
Just last year, an Italian tourist was killed in Romania after approaching and feeding a bear near the roadside. Investigators later found photographs and videos on his phone showing the encounter shortly before the fatal attack.
These incidents are an important reminder that large carnivores remain wild animals, regardless of how calm or accustomed to people they may appear.
🐾 Admire wildlife from a safe distance.
🚗 Never feed bears from a vehicle.
📸 Never approach a bear for a photo or selfie.
🌲 Help keep wildlife wild.
A fed bear is often a dangerous bear. And a dangerous bear rarely has a good future.

29/05/2026

📱🎧🦌 Communication in the hunting field is evolving.
FACE Patron Natlink has announced WeTalk – a new feature that brings real-time voice communication directly into the WeHunt app WeHunt .
🔊 Talk to your entire hunting team with a single press.
📡 No radio channels to manage.
🔒 Encrypted communication within your hunting group.
📱 Connected wherever mobile coverage is available.
🎧 Compatible with Bluetooth hearing protection headsets from brands such as Peltor, Sordin and Hunter.
The system automatically places hunting team members into the same communication channel, making coordination simpler and more efficient in the field.
⚡ Support for external Push-To-Talk (PTT) buttons is also on the way, giving users the familiar feel of a traditional hunting radio.
As hunting technology continues to advance, innovations like WeTalk demonstrate how digital tools can support safer, more effective and better coordinated hunting activities.

29/05/2026

🎯 Fox Predation on Roe Deer Fawns – A Rare Sight 🦊 Eyewitness footage from the wild: https://youtube.com/shorts/-FIV4uUqJSQ
The fox in this video is carrying part of a roe deer fawn. While such scenes can be difficult to watch, they are a reminder of an important reality: nature is neither kind nor cruel — it is about survival.
Scientific studies have shown that red foxes can be one of the main causes of roe deer fawn mortality during their first weeks of life. In some areas, fox predation accounts for a significant share of fawn losses.
Every species has its role. The fox is not a villain, and the fawn is not a victim in a human sense. This is simply how ecosystems function.
What makes the picture more complex is that Europe's landscapes are heavily shaped by human activity. Some species adapt very successfully to these changes, while others face greater challenges.
Understanding wildlife means understanding the entire system — predators, prey, habitats, and human influence.
🌿 Nature is not always easy to watch, but it is always worth understanding.
Photo: Linda Dombrovska

29/05/2026

🎯 Lead ammunition restrictions are coming — but how should Europe manage the transition?
In this clip from the latest episode of We, The Hunters, FACE Secretary General Dr David Scallan discusses one of the biggest challenges facing European hunters today: the proposed EU-wide restrictions on lead ammunition.
The debate is no longer about if change is coming, but how it can be implemented in a fair, proportionate and practical way.
Across Europe, hunters face very different realities. In some countries, fi****ms, infrastructure and access to alternatives make the transition easier. In others, adapting will take significantly more time and investment.
A successful transition requires more than legislation. It means testing equipment, ensuring firearm compatibility, providing training, and giving hunters the time needed to adapt safely and effectively.
Watch the full discussion in the latest episode of We, The Hunters:
👉 https://youtu.be/xvbH6gbutxI
****ms

28/05/2026

Hunters' Wetlands: Billions in Value, Exceeding EU Funding!
See more here: https://youtu.be/xvbH6gbutxI
Science & Conservation: Lead Ammunition, Birds, Dogs & Biodiversity | We, The Hunters #7

27/05/2026

Science & Conservation: Lead Ammunition, Birds, Dogs & Biodiversity | We, The Hunters #7
👉 https://youtu.be/xvbH6gbutxI
In this episode of We, The Hunters, FACE Secretary General Dr David Scallan joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on some of the most important challenges facing hunting, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife management in Europe today.
🎯 Lead ammunition restrictions
🐕 Hunting dogs and animal welfare legislation
🦆 Birds and biodiversity conservation
🌿 Science-based wildlife management
🇪🇺 European policy and decision-making
🌍 FACE represents 7 million hunters through its member organisations across Europe.