From next Tuesday (28 January), the exhibition halls in Dortmund will once again be transformed into a shopping and adventure area for hunters, those interested in hunting, outdoor enthusiasts, dog and nature lovers, and families. At a photo call today, Messe Dortmund, the State Hunting Association of North Rhine Westphalia, the Working Gundog Association, the Dortmund District Hunting Association's brass band and the Order of German Falconers whetted appetites for the diverse programme line-up at Europe's largest hunting show. This year's event will again be packed with highlights and innovations ranging from the product exhibits and exciting competitions to culinary delights and, above all, plenty of informative input on up-to-the-minute hunting-related subject matter. Big-name guests and industry representatives are also awaited right from the very start of the show.



Dortmund, 22 January 2025 – Norbert Schilff, Mayor of Dortmund, Nicole Heitzig, President of the State Hunting Association of North Rhine Westphalia, and Karl Walch, President of the Working Gundog Association, will all be speaking at the JAGD & HUND opening ceremony which will also include international welcome addresses by Dr Steffen Koch, Head of the German delegation of the CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, and Laurens Hoedemaker, President of FACE – European Federation for Hunting and Conservation of the EU. As a special guest and speaker this year, Messe Dortmund is also set to welcome Dr Martin Berges, Permanent Secretary in the North Rhine Westphalia State Ministry of Agriculture & Consumer Protection.

What's new

Together, they will kick off six exciting and varied days at the show. International exhibitors will be presenting the latest trends and innovations this year in a total of eight exhibition halls plus the legendary Westfalenhalle. Last year's débuts are back – including the 'Jagdwelt' hunting world, the unique in-show shopping mall, the two competitions 'Wildlocker' Championship – Small Game Calling Contest and the KIDZ FIEP Championship as well as KNIFE ZONE dedicated to the world of blades together with exhibitors and a stage programme.

This year will also feature some first-timer programme items, with the JAGD & HUND Masterclasses powered by Geartester Academy taking place daily in the adjoining congress centre and featuring big-name speakers as well as a host of in-depth subject matter. These will complement the specialist content programme with discussions and presentations on the various stages throughout the exhibition halls. Another first will be the European Hunting Photo of the Year 2024 to be chosen on Day 1 of the show. The competition has been organised by Messe Dortmund in conjunction with FACE. Not only will the winners be chosen at the show, but the photos of the finalists will also be exhibited.

Old favourites: beastly good, action-packed, exciting and informative

Birds of prey and hunting dog breeds always rank high on the JAGD & HUND popularity scale, and they will also be showing their capabilities this year in breathtaking flight displays and as loyal canine companions and working gundogs. Germany's best deer callers will be competing against each other this year for the 26^th time, with the top three finishers in the German Deer Calling Championships qualifying directly for the European Championships in Lithuania. As adrenaline-fuelled as ever, the popular 4x4 off-road vehicle course will once again be ready for the off – a must for all action lovers! The HORRIDO social media zone will once again be connecting hunters and hunting enthusiasts with well-known bloggers and influencers. At the exhibition area you'll also be able to experience interesting talks and a variety of film premieres as well as superb photographs from international hunting grounds. And as usual, visitors will be able to relax to traditional hunting music played by the brass band.

Culinary marketplace in the Westfalenhalle

The WILD FOOD FESTIVAL with well-known TV chefs, celebrity cooks and Michelin-starred chefs such as Johann Lafer and Florian Conzen will be back as a popular focal point at Europe's largest hunting show. The highly diverse culinary marketplace at JAGD & HUND will delight visitors with live cooking demonstrations, talks and tips as well as exclusively bookable workshops on all aspects of fine game cuisine. There will also be exhibitors in the Westfalenhalle offering everything the amateur chef needs – from accessories to ingredients.

Show app
The WebApp gives users touchscreen access to classified lists of products and exhibitors, hall layouts, search facilities and a whole lot more: app.jagdundhund.net

Programme line-up

An overview of the complete JAGD & HUND programme can be found on the show's website.

Please find photos of today's photo call below under "Download material".

>>> JAGD & HUND press conference
The JAGD & HUND press conference will be held in the 'London' conference room in the North Entrance complex at 11:30 hrs on Monday 27 January (the day before the show). An invitation will follow. Interested parties are kindly asked to register for the press conference by e-mail to presse@jagdundhund.de.