Taking a rifle to stalk in Italy

[Sash]

I have an invitation to stalk chamois in Italy this autumn, on a private estate. I suspect driving will be the most convenient way to get there.

I have had a good dig around the threads here, and understand that, provided the land IS private, I only need a letter of invitation, plus my own “Hunting permit”, i.e. FAC (suitably conditioned for deer) and DSC1.

I have taken firearms into France before, and a very happy with that process. I would use the invitation from the Italian estate as the proof for the temporary import permit.

Have I missed anything?

Thanks in advance

 

[scotch_egg]

Yes, driving through the countries you don’t have permission to shoot in. Since the abolition of the European Firearms Pass it’s not as easy as it once was. You would probably be best flying.

 

[Sash]

Yes, driving through the countries you don’t have permission to shoot in. Since the abolition of the European Firearms Pass it’s not as easy as it once was. You would probably be best flying.

That is Plan B, but not a terribly attractive one logistically.

The CERFA n°15678*01 « Document d’accompagnement en cas de déclaration verbale pour l’admission temporaire ». actually covers entry into (and exit from) the whole EU. So part of my question is whether anyone has ever driven through e.g. France, to hunt in a different country?

FACE suggests that the rules in Italy are perfectly workable (inform local police etc), so its the cross-France travel bit that I would be grateful if anyone has feedback on.

Thanks for any details anyone has, or lessons learned from other trips

 

[artschool]

just drive through France and then italy.

 

[EMcC]

I've driven through France with firearms in my vehicle but have never been stopped and asked if I have firearms and they would not have seen it even if I had as it was in my boot under my clothes.
As I was not wearing 'Hunting Clothes' I cannot see any reason why anybody would stop me.

 

[artschool]

France was first to break ranks and make it easy to cross through its channel ports with guns. As laid out on this webpage, it allows you to pass through French borders with two long guns (sporting rifles and shotguns) and 100 rounds of ammunition as long as you have a temporary hunting licence for your destination country and your UK gun licence.

How to cross the UK border with guns post Brexit

It’s got better since 1 February 2020 when Brexit threw it into doubt. Research by the SCI’s UK chapter reveals that most European countries only require you to have a visitor’s hunting licence for the country where you plan to hunt, such as a German Jagdschein, plus a valid UK gun licence. The...

www.fieldsportschannel.tv

 

[jthyttin]

I don't know where they got the idea that pump-action was EU class A. I do understand that in UK pump action unfoundedly has same limitations as semiauto (?) but in EU classification it's still a repeater and in class C (with some length restrictions).

 

[Tazz]

Yes, driving through the countries you don’t have permission to shoot in. Since the abolition of the European Firearms Pass it’s not as easy as it once was. You would probably be best flying.

Very good point, should I mention Brexit again or try and get over it

 

[phillc]

I don't know where they got the idea that pump-action was EU class A. I do understand that in UK pump action unfoundedly has same limitations as semiauto (?) but in EU classification it's still a repeater and in class C (with some length restrictions).

Not in Austria.

Gun law in Austria - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

1994 – pump-action shotguns are banned. A few hundred were turned in, 2,000 were registered and legalized and around 40,000 disappeared and went illegal.

Category A with its two subcategories:

• war material includes automatic firearms, armor-piercing weapons, tanks;
• restricted weapons includes weapons disguised as other objects, firearms which can be disassembled in a faster than usual fashion for hunting and sport, shotguns with an overall length of less than 90 cm (35 in) or barrel length shorter than 45 cm (18 in), pump action shotguns, suppressors and firearms with suppressors, knuckledusters, blackjacks, steel rods.

 

[Heym SR20]

Good to know that France is happy for transit provided you have a visitors permit for destination country.

The Dutch however do require authorisation for non eu to transit weapons through their country. This is a real embuggerance for many travelling the Northern part of the UK across to Germany / Scandinavia as north sea ferries go to Holland. Going via the tunnel adds a huge amount more driving.

It also makes a mockery that individual EU countries cannot have control of their borders. Each and every one does when it comes to people and goods, especially firearms, from outside the EU.

 

[artschool]

The Dutch however do require authorisation for non eu to transit weapons through their country. This is a real embuggerance for many travelling the Northern part of the UK across to Germany / Scandinavia as north sea ferries go to Holland. Going via the tunnel adds a huge amount more driving.

yes we have the same problem each year. No Belgium and no Holland we have to drive beneath then to get to Germany.

 

[Rob79]

I have an invitation to stalk chamois in Italy this autumn, on a private estate. I suspect driving will be the most convenient way to get there.

I have had a good dig around the threads here, and understand that, provided the land IS private, I only need a letter of invitation, plus my own “Hunting permit”, i.e. FAC (suitably conditioned for deer) and DSC1.

I have taken firearms into France before, and a very happy with that process. I would use the invitation from the Italian estate as the proof for the temporary import permit.

Have I missed anything?

Thanks in advance

Id be interested to know if you managed this trip and what the travel into Italy was like with firearms and what paperwork you ended up getting? I have a potential boar trip on private land so im in a similar predicament

thanks

Rob

 

[Sash]

Id be interested to know if you managed this trip and what the travel into Italy was like with firearms and what paperwork you ended up getting? I have a potential boar trip on private land so im in a similar predicament

thanks

Rob

Alas, no progress - the trip was called off for other reasons, so postponed until next year.

I read an interesting article in the UK NRA Journal about taking a team of shooters to Europe, where the logistics involved crossing several frontiers with their rifles, so I am going to follow up there.

Sorry I cannot be of any more help at present

 

[Rob79]

Thanks, I may try in January by air - ill update you if it happens