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

[RescueMe0007]

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.

True, but that’s an internal matter for the AGS. Once the license is granted (which is done by AGS) the license is good and would be difficult to justify removal at the next renewal.

 

[palo]

True, but that’s an internal matter for the AGS. Once the license is granted (which is done by AGS) the license is good and would be difficult to justify removal at the next renewal.

We will have to wait and see. I've seen a super remove moderators from licences at renewal time.

 

[RescueMe0007]

The onus will be upon the AGS to justify the removal. Provided one has not provided any grounds for removal it would be far more of a challenge for the AGS to justify removal based upon an internal error of the AGS. If they did then ones case would be very strong before a judge.

 

[reiver]

Legal in Croatia but it can not be fitted to rifle unless at your shoot so no driving to and from your shoot with it fitted ?

 

[Heym SR20]

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.

For Scotland see section 5 of the attached act

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1985/1168/pdfs/uksi_19851168_en.pdf

 

[levigsp]

In Poland it is legal to use night vision and thermal to view all wildlife and you can use both in sight form to hunt in certain circumstances.
You can use both to hunt boar[asf reduction] and certain predators.

 

[flyinghuntsmen]

A humorous note on legality catching up with reality:

What's the difference between the UK, Germany, and Austria?

In the UK, you see, everything which isn't forbidden is allowed.

In Germany, on the other hand, everything which isn't explicitly allowed is forbidden.

And in Austria, well, it doesn't really matter whether it's forbidden or not. Just don't push it!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Here is the German customs website in English.

Weapons and ammunition

www.zoll.de

 

[Heym SR20]

Here is the German customs website in English.

Weapons and ammunition

www.zoll.de

Thanks. What is the "competent authority" in Germany that can issue temporary permits for import of weapons for hunting?