On Oct. 15, Radio ZET interviewed PSL deputy president Urszula Pasławska, who argued that parents should retain the right to have children hunt, citing constitutional principles.
Hunting Is About Economics, Not Emotion
Pasławska told Radio ZET that Poland has too few hunters and that hunters serve an important economic role in agriculture and nature conservation. She has been a licensed hunter since 2012 and described the Polish Hunting Association as “people who love nature and are part of the forest, unfairly judged by activists.”
She added that hunting is a last resort and that the organization follows government‑directed hunting plans. “It is not an emotional issue, but an economic one,” she said, emphasizing respect for the entire procedure and the importance of teaching children respect for what they eat.
Parental Rights Over Children’s Hunting
When asked whether children should be allowed to participate in hunting, Pasławska said they should be raised according to constitutional principles and that parents have the right to instill their own values. She claimed that the PiS government’s 2018 reforms removed this right, calling it unconstitutional.
She has filed a petition with the Constitutional Tribunal, which has not yet considered the case.
Legal Constraints on Minors in Hunting
Polish law currently prohibits minors from taking part in hunting, with legislation passed in 2018 banning individuals under 18 from participating in any hunting activity. The law specifically forbids killing an animal in the presence of a minor.
Environmental and Wildlife Management Pressures
Pasławska warned that climate change and shifts in agrarian structure are leading to increased wildlife populations across Europe. She cited major problems with wild boar, damage to hunting, wolves, and bears, and argued that a comprehensive management strategy is urgently needed. She concluded that nature will not defend itself without such measures.
Context of the Ukraine War and Terrain Knowledge
She noted that knowledge of local terrain and nature is a uniquely valuable skill, especially during the war in Ukraine, and that engaging in hunting helps cultivate this expertise.