Dortmund becomes the centre of the hunting industry in Germany every winter as JAGD & HUND arrives at Messe Dortmund. The international hunting community travels to the city to enjoy the variety of products, connect and exchange experience. It’s a highly anticipated event that has consumers, associations, manufacturers and retailers excited for news and trends surrounding the world of hunting. Visitors to JAGD & HUND can expect a wealth of products, demonstrations and special exhibition features. The 2024 edition was no exception and gave professionals much to talk about, especially when it came to product innovations. At the forefront stood firearms innovation. Leading manufacturers such as Blaser, Carl Walther, Browning International, Mauser, Merkel Jagd- & Sportwaffen, and Sig Sauer unveiled their latest offerings in hunting and sporting firearms. A notable trend in recent years has been the emphasis on practical stock alternatives, scratch-resistant coatings and the integration of standard muzzle threads for attaching silencers. The increasing popularity of ‘built-in silencers’ signaled a move towards the reduction of noise levels during hunting and shooting activities. Trapping techniques were also a focus. With hunting laws in several German states prohibiting the use of snap traps, the focus has shifted to modern, animal-friendly live trapping systems. JAGD & HUND will showcase innovative tube and box traps, alongside electronic trapping detectors, providing hunters with effective and humane alternatives for small-game hunting. Visitors also had access to revolutionary advancements in optical equipment. The hunting optics sector has emerged as a key driver of industry growth, fueled by continuous technical innovation and evolving legal frameworks. Traditional hunting optics such as binoculars and riflescopes are complemented by electronically assisted aids like residual light amplifiers, digital night vision technology, and thermal imaging cameras, which offer hunters unparalleled visibility even in low-light conditions like never before.