Hunting primarily serves to maintain and preserve a healthy and species-appropriate wild animal population. It also aims to protect game and secure and maintain its livelihood.

The main instrument for regulating game populations is shooting planning. The State Administration Office, Forestry and Hunting Sovereignty Department, is directly responsible for the hunting districts of the state and federal forestry offices. As the higher hunting authority, it also exerts influence on the hunting authorities of the districts and independent cities as part of its technical supervision.

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

Some game species are subject to special protection under the Federal Game Protection Ordinance. The Higher Hunting Authority is responsible for this in Saxony-Anhalt.