Legal conditions for thermal imaging (and other night vision) equipment, in Europe

[finnbear270]

Guess I'd better text George.

 

[Adyb]

For France - Suggest you carefully do your research if expecting to do any hunting at night - normally not permitted but a few exceptions in some regions.

My basic understanding of the laws are:
- cannot hunt at all at night (1hr - + sunrise/sunset) unless specifically licensed to do so (only population control situations)
- A couple of exceptions to above in a couple of departments (Alcace region) for wild boar and elsewhere for waterfowlers
- You can use a thermal spotter as long as its not hands free (monoculars, binoculars are ok and widely used)
- you cannot use a thermal scope for hunting (either day or night)
- (as far as i can tell) you can use nv add ons such as pard nv007 (provided not violating night hunting regs) but cannot use dedecated image intensifying nv scopes

 

[Sika98k]

Ireland handheld thermals allowed for fox but not deer thermal scopes also I think?

Hand held thermals are legal to possess. However NV scopes either digital or thermal and add ons require permission prior to purchase from An Garda Siochana, our Old Bill.
The use of thermal or digital scopes is illegal for deer hunting.

 

[flyinghuntsmen]

I can shed some light on the situation in Austria and Germany

Austria
Thermal / night vision clip-ons or rifle scopes:
Possession is not regulated
Mounting to firearms not regulated
Legal for hunting, but only for wild boar (specifics depend on the state, e.g. some require 3+ years stalking experience)

Lasers and other lamps (IR or visible):
Possession not regulated
Mounting to firearms not regulated

Thermal / night vision handhelds:
Possession not regulated
Cannot physically be mounted to firearms - hence a hand held
Legal for hunting in all states for all game, however shooting hoofed game with the exception of boar is generally illegal at night (1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise)
Helmet or head mounted solutions would also be ok

Germany
Thermal / night vision rifle scopes
Possession is illegal!

Thermal / night vision clip-ons:
Possession is permitted if is a dual-use device - i.e. a handheld that can also be clipped on (this is typically German definitional hokuspokus...) or for those in possession of an active german hunting licence (theres one for visitors against a fee)
Mounting to firearms not regulated
Legality for hunting depends on the Bundesland and in any case is legal only for boar (no foxes etc.)

Lasers and other lamps (IR or visible):
Possession may be illegal - depends on purpose, if they've been made to be mounted to firearms then they're illegal
Mounting to firearms is illegal! (This includes all lamps and lasers!)
Special permission for a personal exemption can be obtained in regions battling an outbreak of African swine fever but is a bureaucratic adventure

Thermal / night vision handhelds:
Possession is not regulated
Cannot physically be mounted to firearms
Legal for hunting in all states for all game, however shooting hoofed game with the exception of boar is generally illegal at night (1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise)

AFAIK in Hungary handhelds are ok but clip-ons or rifle scopes are not, but don't quote me on that.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Can I just run my understanding of the UK law past everyone else to make sure I have this right? As I understand the current situation...

1) The ownership of NV and thermal scopes is legal throughout the UK
2) Ditto NV and thermal spotters
3) In England you can shoot a deer using a rifle fitted with an NV scope but it would be illegal to do so at night (i.e. more than one hour before/after sunshine/sunset).
4) In Scotland, however, is would illegal to shoot a deer using a rifle fitted with an NV scope - regardless of the time of day.

Things I don‘t know:

I am assuming it is legal (or more properly not illegal) to shoot a deer using a rifle fitted with a thermal scope in England - provided you shoot it during the daytime. And I am assuming that it would be illegal to do so in Scotland. In other words I am assuming the law around the use of thermal scopes when shooting deer mirrors that around the use of NV,

I am assuming that the law in Wales mirrors that of England.

I am assuming the use of thermal spotters (and NV spotters) is legal throughout the UK regardless of the type of quarry - i.e. there are no deer specific restrictions.

I’d be grateful to know if any of this is wrong.

My understanding of the laws in GB matches yours
NV and thermal spotters are not illegal legal anywhere in the UK
NV and thermal scopes (and spotters configured as a front add-on when actually fitted to a riflescope) are illegal in Scotland

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Dunwaters]

Hand held thermals are legal to possess. However NV scopes either digital or thermal and add ons require permission prior to purchase from An Garda Siochana, our Old Bill.
The use of thermal or digital scopes is illegal for deer hunting.

In ROI theres a bit more to it than permission, under the 1990 firearms act, section 4 thermal, laser and night vision scopes designed to be used as sights on a firearm are themselves firearms by definition, as are moderators and silencers, so you need a firearms cert to possess one, Gardai have recently become aware of this and theres been a recent crackdown on possession, sale and import.
Use of digital, thermal or otherwise enhanced scopes for deer hunting is only permitted under licence in special cases.
Possession and use of devices not “ designed” to be mounted on a firearm is not restricted.

 

[Sika98k]

In ROI theres a bit more to it than permission, under the 1990 firearms act, section 4 thermal, laser and night vision scopes designed to be used as sights on a firearm are themselves firearms by definition, as are moderators and silencers, so you need a firearms cert to possess one, Gardai have recently become aware of this and theres been a recent crackdown on possession, sale and import.
Use of digital, thermal or otherwise enhanced scopes for deer hunting is only permitted under licence in special cases.
Possession and use of devices not “ designed” to be mounted on a firearm is not restricted.

As far as I am aware the use of digital, thermal or otherwise enhanced scope for deer hunting is not permitted under any circumstances. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Dunwaters]

As far as I am aware the use of digital, thermal or otherwise enhanced scope for deer hunting is not permitted under any circumstances. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Under normal circumstances you are perfectly correct, but exceptions have been made and license’s issued.
That may change in view of the deliberations of the Firearms Expert Committee.

 

[Sika98k]

Under normal circumstances you are perfectly correct, but exceptions have been made and license’s issued.
That may change in view of the deliberations of the Firearms Expert Committee.

“Expert” would appear to be a bit of a misnomer ! I have a Section 42 every year where the human footfall during daylight makes Deer stalking impossible. Lamp yes but anything else specifically prohibited.

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

I believe the exporting of nv scopes from the UK will make you into a potential prison queen if you do not get an export permit first.

This was certainly what I was told by thomas jacks after I contacted them about taking a thermal to canada last year, somthing to do with them having a military aplication was the reason for the restriction and in short was told yes its do-able but with the amount of hastle it just wasnt worth it

 

[Dunwaters]

“Expert” would appear to be a bit of a misnomer ! I have a Section 42 every year where the human footfall during daylight makes Deer stalking impossible. Lamp yes but anything else specifically prohibited.

I’m assuming that the specific conditions attached to your section precludes the use of anything other than a lamp, which is normal.
Some exceptions to that rule were made where conditions required it.

 

[Jagare]

In Sweden NV is only for boar at night. I'm sure no other animal can be shot at night with NV

 

[jthyttin]

IIRC the main reason that NV and thermal are not legal for hunting is Bern agreement (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats). When UK joined, you included exceptions, basically defining a lot of animals that are considered game in other countries, as pests. And also reserving the right for e.g. night time shooting of deer under some kind of process.

That said, in Finland it's illegal to use artificial light in hunting, except when tracking and dispatching wounded game. Also fixed artificial lighting is allowed for shooting wild boar at feeding places. No restrictions regarding sunset/sunrise. Thermal and NV devices are legal to possess in all forms, and spotters are legal for hunting.

Thermal and NV sighting devices are currently legal for raccoon dog and some other animals on invasive species list. Most other restrictions from hunting legislation still apply, like using motorized vehicle, magazine restrictions in semiautos, no poison etc.

Also special permits have been obtained for using thermal and NV sighting devices for wildboar (ASF) and whitetail deer (at some problem locations). These are special provisions re: Bern agreement, and can be only temporary and no other solution available.

In Estonia thermal and NV sighting devices were just allowed for civilian ownership. It's expected they will soon be legal for wild boar (ASF). Currently white light can be used for boar under some restrictions like elevated shooting position. No restrictions on ownership or use of spotters. I also hope Estonia will follow Finland and legalize these sights for raccoon dog.

 

[German Saffer]

I live in the German state of Nordrhein Westfalen (NRW). As stated, even ownership of digital NV and thermal Scopes are strictly Verboten.

We are however allowed to use thermal/NV clip on devices. For the NV, the IR source may not be attached to the rifle.

We are only allowed to hunt boar with such devices.

Just across the border in the Netherlands (NL) digital scopes are perfectly legal to own. They are even allowed to mount lights to their firearm. Hunting opertunities are however very very scarce there there, with many Dutch hunters hunting in Germany. Which means they can't legally use the digital scopes there in any case. (Neither are they allowed to own moderators in NL. )

 

[RescueMe0007]

Ireland handheld thermals allowed for fox but not deer thermal scopes also I think?

See Dunwaters contribution above he is correct.

 

[RescueMe0007]

Hand held thermals are legal to possess. However NV scopes either digital or thermal and add ons require permission prior to purchase from An Garda Siochana, our Old Bill.
The use of thermal or digital scopes is illegal for deer hunting.

Thermal, nv and infra red are legal under the commissioners guidelines if registered under ones FAC. They’re legal for use on deer if granted under a S42 licence. Otherwise may only be used on unprotected quarry, i.e. fox, rabbit, rats etc.

 

[Steff]

I live in the German state of Nordrhein Westfalen (NRW). As stated, even ownership of digital NV and thermal Scopes are strictly Verboten.

We are however allowed to use thermal/NV clip on devices. For the NV, the IR source may not be attached to the rifle.

We are only allowed to hunt boar with such devices.

Just across the border in the Netherlands (NL) digital scopes are perfectly legal to own. They are even allowed to mount lights to their firearm. Hunting opertunities are however very very scarce there there, with many Dutch hunters hunting in Germany. Which means they can't legally use the digital scopes there in any case. (Neither are they allowed to own moderators in NL. )

A small correction, my dear fellow countryman. In NRW thermals are not allowed in any form for shooting. Not even as clip-on units.

 

[palo]

The Irish situation is a real can of worms.
Superintendents have been granting permission for the use of night vision and thermal scopes.
Now it seems that they don't have the authority to do so as they require a restricted licence which can only be granted by a chief superintendent.

 

[German Saffer]

A small correction, my dear fellow countryman. In NRW thermals are not allowed in any form for shooting. Not even as clip-on units.

Thank you for the correction. I've seen so many of them here, I lazily assumed they were legal in NRW.

 

[Steff]

Thank you for the correction. I've seen so many of them here, I lazily assumed they were legal in NRW.

Ha, ha, I know what you mean. Once again reality is ahead of legality.