Population trends, numbers of harvested adult females and harvest rates of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Switzerland and in the canton of St. Gallen were analysed using freely accessible data from federal and regional hunting statistics. We did the same analyses with data from chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Switzerland and in the cantons of Berne and St. Gallen. Data from roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were analysed for Switzerland and the cantons of Solothurn and Vaud. The results show that the new Swiss hunting and forest laws have not had any effect on population size of red deer, chamois and roe deer yet. Regulative effects, however, could be shown locally for the red deer in the canton of St. Gallen and for the chamois in the cantons of Berne and St. Gallen. There is evidence that the present hunting statistics represent only an incomplete base for comprehensive harvest planning according to the law.