Has anyone travelled to Austria with a rifle in the last year or so????

[jfr_1991]

Hi all

Travelling to Austria in two weeks for a hunting trip. Before I go through the pain of getting hold of the Austrian embassy in London, has anyone recently travelled to Austria from a London airport with their own rifle?

I have liability insurance, a letter of invitation, my UK FAC and I have informed BA I will be flying with the rifle.

What I want to know is do I need any form of Austrian permit for my time there? My understanding is I don’t, although the wording on various government websites feels a bit vague.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Best

Joe

 

[rougshooter]

Dear Joe,

I'm pretty sure you don't because you don't need a licence for a bolt action rifle in Austria, only registration, and your UK licence proves the gun is registered in the UK and the letter of invitation is proof enough you have a legitimate invitation to hunt here. Customs will know you have come from outside the EU so that explains why you don't have a European Weapons Pass (I don't think they issue them anymore in the UK).

Hope you have a great trip and enjoy the schnapps.

Waidmannsheil.

Regards Craig.

 

[jfr_1991]

Thank you Craig. That was my understanding of the situation as well. Thanks for your help. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely enjoy the schnapps.

Waidmannsdank!

Joe

 

[WW.]

Don't know about for the rifle specifically but you will need a hunting permit (Jagdschein) IIRC.

 

[jfr_1991]

Don't know about for the rifle specifically but you will need a hunting permit (Jagdschein) IIRC.

The friend who I’m hunting with has applied for the jagdschein so I should be covered on that one.

 

[rougshooter]

As a matter of interest are you in a position to give me an idea of the region you are going to and what you are hunting ? Foreigners visiting Austria as hunting guests is not as common as they are in other neighbouring countries like the Czech republic or Hungary.

 

[jfr_1991]

As a matter of interest are you in a position to give me an idea of the region you are going to and what you are hunting ? Foreigners visiting Austria as hunting guests is not as common as they are in other neighbouring countries like the Czech republic or Hungary.

Lillienfeld district in Lower Austria. We’re after gams. I think it’s mostly steep hills and forests and not really open mountains. Whatever the case it’s an adventure and a pleasure to have the chance to hunt in a foreign place. I can’t wait!

 

[Scarpa]

Enjoy, I moved to Austria (in the foothills of the Dachstein range) but do my stalking while working in the UK.

 

[rougshooter]

Lillienfeld district in Lower Austria. We’re after gams. I think it’s mostly steep hills and forests and not really open mountains. Whatever the case it’s an adventure and a pleasure to have the chance to hunt in a foreign place. I can’t wait!

Nice one. I am British and moved to another part of Lower Austria 7 years ago, near the Semmering pass. The stalking here is great but I really miss wood pigeons lol. Have a great time and greetings to Scarpa in Dachstein as well.

 

[Klenchblaize]

What was BA's response to your notification?

Hope all goes well.

K

 

[jfr_1991]

What was BA's response to your notification?

Hope all goes well.

K

They were fine. Told me that was no problem at all, took the make, serial number and chambering of the rifle and the number of rounds I was taking. Informed me it was £125 each way (ouch). Told me the ammo could be either with the rifle or in my hold luggage and said to be there an extra hour early.

I’ll report back when I’m home to tell you all how far I made it.

Joe

 

[WW.]

I was fortunate to have a similar trip this time last year but used their rifle. You are in for spectacular hunting and culture. Waidmannsheil.

 

[EMcC]

How fortunate for you travelling from LHR with a firearm, our group was recently informed no firearms through there. We were all travelling to Zagreb tomorrow but now half are travelling from Birmingham via Brussels and I and another are travelling from Gatwick Via Istanbul

 

[Dunwaters]

They were fine. Told me that was no problem at all, took the make, serial number and chambering of the rifle and the number of rounds I was taking. Informed me it was £125 each way (ouch). Told me the ammo could be either with the rifle or in my hold luggage and said to be there an extra hour early.

This is crazy, the reason for the regulation requiring firearm and ammunition to be packaged “ separately” is to prevent both the firearm and its ammunition being transported together, which makes perfect sense.
BA is not the only airline mandating this ridiculous practice.
That said, do as they say and enjoy your trip.

I’ll report back when I’m home to tell you all how far I made it.

Joe

 

[jfr_1991]

I’m very much planning on calling BA again on Monday (flying out Thursday morning) and reconfirming the baggage requirements and that they have all of my details. Fingers crossed.

 

[jfr_1991]

The rifle and I made it with very little bother. Just slow moving people at Heathrow which made things unnecessarily stressful but it turns out ammo in a locked box within the rifle case is fine.

Managed to bag myself a class 1 Gams female, 16 years old. Very special trophy and an awesome hunting experience with wonderful people.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Ha, now we all know how ugly you are.
Weidmannsheil.

 

[VSS]

View attachment 447991View attachment 447992

The rifle and I made it with very little bother. Just slow moving people at Heathrow which made things unnecessarily stressful but it turns out ammo in a locked box within the rifle case is fine.

Managed to bag myself a class 1 Gams female, 16 years old. Very special trophy and an awesome hunting experience with wonderful people.

Sounds like a fantastic trip!
Lovely looking rifle, too!

 

[jfr_1991]

Ha, now we all know how ugly you are.
Weidmannsheil.

The ugliest englischer in Neiderosterreich aber mit ‘Erika’ the most beautiful Gams. Waidmannsdank!!

 

[jfr_1991]

Sounds like a fantastic trip!
Lovely looking rifle, too!

It was a swap for muntjac and Chinese but when we arrived here we soon realised we’d found an old money, really traditional hunting family who have hosted us like kings. But it was worth bringing my Charles Lancaster for such a special hunt. No regrets here!!