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Thomas Soltwedel Wins 2026 German Hirschrufer Championship in Dortmund

The long-running contest uses blind expert judging to honor authentic red-deer calling, spotlighting conservation pressures on the species.

Overview

  • Thomas Soltwedel of Dobbin-Linstow took the title after outperforming roughly a dozen callers at the Jagd & Hund fair in Hall 4.
  • Gösta Rehse finished second, with Enrico Braun securing third in a runoff against Immo Ortlepp.
  • Competitors were scored on three prescribed calls: a young searching stag, a dominant stag addressing hinds, and a peak-rut duel between equal rivals.
  • A five-member jury of foresters, hunters and red-deer experts judged the performances blind via headphones.
  • The champion received a €2,000 Frankonia voucher as organizers used the stage to highlight concerns about inbreeding and habitat pressure on red deer.