Latvia has opened the hunting season for wolves, jackals, and red deer: what has changed this year
Latvia has increased its hunting quotas for wolves for the 2026/2027 season to 400 animals, citing a stable population. The State Forest Service also opened the hunting season for jackals and red deer, noting that wolf hunting limits are balanced against livestock protection needs.
Why it matters
Wildlife management policies reflect the tension between species conservation and the protection of agricultural interests.
Latvia has opened the hunting season for wolves, jackals, and red deer: what has changed this year
According to the State Forest Service (SFS), an analysis conducted jointly with the Silava Forest Research Institute showed that the number of wolves in the country remains stable, and regulated hunting does not threaten the conservation of the species. For this reason, the limit for the 2026/2027 season has been increased from 370 to 400 animals.
The territory of Latvia, as in the previous year, is divided into two management zones. In Zone A, where wolves are permanently present, up to 330 animals can be hunted. Hunting here will continue until the limit is reached, but no later than March 31.
In Zone B, where wolves are encountered significantly less frequently, the limit is set at 70 animals. The season will end after this limit is reached or on December 31.
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