Hunting banned in parts of Austria after hailstones kill 90% of wild game

Hunting has been banned in parts of Austria after freak storms with tennis ball-sized hailstones killed up to 90% of the wild game population

The Telegraph, London, 19 October 2009

Hundreds of deer were discovered either dead or so badly injured they had to be put down by wildlife experts.

In the country's rural Salzburg province, 90% of pheasants and 80% of hares were killed in the hail storms.

Sepp Eder, the hunting chief, said: "Animals sought shelter in farms, in fields of grain but the hail was so heavy it smashed right into them. It may take five years for animal numbers to recover, if they ever do so."

Farmers are believed to have suffered more than £60 million in damages to crops and buildings.

Link:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/6377192/Hunting-banned-in-parts-of-Austria-after-hailstones-kill-90pc-of-wild-game.html