Hunting primarily serves the care and maintenance of a healthy and species-appropriate wild animal population. It also aims to protect wildlife and to secure and maintain its livelihood.

An essential instrument for the regulation of wild populations is shooting planning. The State Administration Office, Department of Forestry and Hunting Sovereignty, is directly responsible for the hunting districts of the forestry offices of the state and the federal government. In addition, as the upper hunting authority, it influences the hunting authorities of the districts and independent cities within the framework of technical supervision.

Together with the Higher Veterinary Authority, special attention is paid to protection against wild diseases. At the request of official veterinarians, blood samples are taken from wild boar during hunting for testing for swine fever and brucellosis. Foxes are also regularly sent in for examination to check the status "rabies-free region".

Due to the Federal Wildlife Protection Ordinance, some game species are subject to special protection. The Upper Hunting Authority is responsible for this in Saxony-Anhalt.