Die Wilderer

Poachers Then and Now

The authors of this richly illustrated book delve into the phenomenon of poaching and wildlife theft in both the past and present. Alongside the most famous poachers of yesteryear, the book particularly describes modern poaching in the Austrian-South German region. How did poaching come about? Who were the poachers? What were they fighting against, and how did the myths surrounding these rebels arise? The historical overview sheds light on the historical background of poaching without romanticizing it. It also portrays the conflicts between poachers and hunters, which could escalate to murder, and discusses the harsh, even brutal punishments that have been imposed for illegal hunting since the Middle Ages. Time and again, there were also instances of wildlife theft out of necessity and hunger, as seen in the 1930s and 1940s of the last century.