Hunting abroad and renting rifle - licensing questions

[abyadkr]

Hi everyone, my friend and I (from the UK) are new to hunting and would like to take a hunting trip within Europe. We will be renting rifles in the country we are travelling to because we do not own any firearms. When we enquired with the outfitter, he mentioned that he would provide an invitation letter but would need "a guns passport for EU if we have, or gun license."

From my research, I have seen that UK hunting licenses do not exist but firearm licenses do. So my question is do we need a license if we are only renting rifles while we are over there (i.e. we are not taking our own firearm into the country)?

If we do need some form of license, what is it and how can we go about getting this?

This may sound like a silly question but I cannot find any information online to answer this.

Thank you!

 

[jthyttin]

You have to explain your situation to the outfitter and ask specific instructions.

Usually if you are accompanied fulltime while hunting the person accompanying you can lend you the rifle under his supervision.

It's also usual that a rifle may be lent to somebody authorised to possess one, so having FAC and EU guns passport would enable you to have the rifle w/o supervision (even if you left your own rifle in UK).

Most countries would also require that to obtain local hunting license you need to provide foreign hunting license or proof that your home country does not require a license to hunt. In addition to this, if shooting test is required for the animals in question, you usually need to provide certificate you've taken it in another country or that your home country does not require one for similar animals.

 

[TH4]

To get a definitive answer you will need to say which country you intend to hunt in as regulations vary from country to country.

 

[abyadkr]

Romania

To get a definitive answer you will need to say which country you intend to hunt in as regulations vary from country to country.

 

[TH4]

Have friends living in Romania. Will check with them and let you know.

 

[abyadkr]

Thank you v much

Have friends living in Romania. Will check with them and let you know.

 

[Lateral]

If this is for stalking, or shooting from a stand, where you are normally accompanied by a guide/keeper, I think it might be able to be done in a similar way to the "estate rifle" rules over here. If it's for driven, I think it will be more difficult.

Generally, you can't just hire a rifle, even with a license, but without a UK firearms license, I doubt you'l be able to get the local hunting license, and insurance. Be interesting to see how this works out. Good luck with it.

 

[Heym SR20]

In Germany you need a Jagdschein to hunt. You can get a visitors Jagdschein on production of the equivalent from your home country. In this case my UK Firearms Certificate. You also need a local sponsor - ie your host.

To get the Jagdschein, German hunters have to go through and pass a series of quite tough hunting exams and mentoring in the field, so having by a DSC2 also helped, but friends who came with me were just fine with an FAC.

Each country is different so take advice from your host. Most have an equivalent of an Estate Rifle clause where you can use a borrowed rifle as long as you are closely supervised.