Big game hunt

Small game hunt

Customs

Rules

Documents

Weapons

Ammunition

Dogs

BIG GAME HUNT

Big game is hunted by riffled barrel gun using proper caliber in accordance with the game sort. It is permitted to use smooth bore-barrel gun for Wild Boar hunt, as well as riffled barrel, only with ammunition caliber 16 and more.

Hunting methods:

- ground shooting stand, high shooting stand, stalking hunt
- it is permitted to hunt: chase Wild Boars during the closed season for female Wild Boar , and high stand and stalking after closed season

SMALL GAME HUNT

Small game is hunted using smooth bore-barrel gun and minimal diameter for the shot is specified for each of game sort.

Hunting Methods: covered chase, open chase, trapping, ambush at overflight.

Every citizen of Croatia is permitted to hunt under condition of passing hunting exams, owning a gun registration as well as gun carrying permission and fulfilling all other statutory requests.
Foreign hunters can hunt in Croatia under condition of having needing hunting skills and in accordance to hunting policy of the country they are coming from, and only with a permit issued by a designated hunt official.

Arrow and bow hunt is strictly forbidden.

Falconry hunt is permitted only to persons owning falconry license, owns a specially trained predatory bird and is granted with a permit by Ministry of Environment Protection and Physical Planning and designated hunt official.

CUSTOMS

The hunter must act in accordance with the hunting ethics and with due respect for the environment and game as unseparatable part, therefore he must ensure a careful handling and use of weapons in particular.
The hunter should enjoy all the aspects of hunting legacy, most of all, the hunting itself, however without any intention whatsoever to break records, but, on the contrary, to act as an aid and a regulator of animal species.
The hunter should prepare for the hunting at least one day in advance.
Preparations such as weapon control, choice of ammunition calibre and equipment, check-up of fitness and condition of the dog, updating of validity of any necessary documents (firearm license, hunting license, etc.) must be detail and accurate.
The hunter should dress appropriately, in complete. That means he should wear both hunting clothes and shoes, including a cap/hat. A hunter showing up in the shabby outfit is looked at with contempt by other, true, hunters.
As a custom, the hunter never lends his knife to another hunter. In other words, every hunter is supposed to wear and carry his own equipment.
Punctuality is one of the major requirements and characteristics of a hunter. It is not excetpable to be late, particularly when going out on hunting parties. In fact, it is better not to show up if beeing late.
There is a custom in Croatia, among hunters, to greet one another by a handshake and a traditional greeting GOOD FORTUNE ("Good hunting"). The other hunter says THANK YOU. The hunter may be greeted in this way also by a non-hunter.
Prior to the beginning oh the hunting, the leader of the hunt will assign guides to hunters, depending on the type of hunting and the preserve.The hunter thanks the master of the hunt by a handshake and by raising his hat.
A hunter killing an animal for the very first time in a hunt, is to be 'baptized'.
The tradition roots from the custom of initiation of young hunters or warriors in the ancient times and from the medieval initiation of young knights. At the end of the hunting, the master of the hunt says the name of the hunter to be baptized and appoints a jury and a judge (as a rule, himself) to judge the rookie hunter. At the end of the proceedings a sentences is pronounced to lay the new hunter's weapon and the cartridge on the shot animal - then the hunter bends down and the senior hunters perform the baptizing by as many blows with a stick as specified by the jury. Once the baptizing is finished, the hunter is given the stick (containing the date and signatures of the hunters who baptized him) to take it home.
Apart from the large game trophies (roebuck, wild boar, etc.) which are prepared in a special way and hanged on the wall, the hunter may also be given other trophies of smaller sizes so that they can be stuck in the hatband. One can use an cartridge case as a thropy.
Certain gamebird trophies, such as a feather from a wild duck, woodcock, pheasant, or a long hair taken from a wild boar's back, are worn on the right side of the hat during the day when the animal was shot (for 1 day), and for the rest of the season they are worn on the left side of the hat. A new hunter must always respect and give the lead to senior hunters

RULES

Hunters must ensure full compliance with instructions provided by their guides. The task of the guides assigned to hunters is to run the hunt and to do everything they can to ensure that hunters are satisfied but they must also take care of interests of the organization and ensure the full compliance with Croatian hunting acts and regulations.
On the other hand, hunters must comply with rules and positive regulations and instructions and guidelines provided by their guide.
In case of an undisciplined hunter, or his dog, the guide may suspend the hunting. After establishing of elements of undisciplined behaviour on part of the hunter, the master of the hunt has the right to send such hunter off the ground. In that case the hunter shall not be entitled to any refund.
Any game that has been shot but not recovered, or that has been wounded (evidenced by one feather of a gamebird that has been shot but managed to fly away...) will also be charged.
In no case it is allowed to shoot a gamebird that has not been that has not taken wing or if the shot is not certain (right of priority, long shot,...).
It is not allowed to shoot a resting hare.
If it is unclear who shot the animal, as a rule, the animal will belong to the last hunter taking a shot, that is to the hunter after whose shot the animal fell down.
In case of a dispute among hunters, and after hearing all the parties involved, the master will decide upon the matter.
It is strictly forbidden to shoot at any game protected by law, such as thrush etc. (refer to Croatian law) because it is considered unethical, or an act of vandalism, or an act contrary to the law.
It is not allowed to shoot towards other hunters, houses, towns, or vehicles. As a rule, it is not allowed to take a shot from a distance below 300 m with respect to the above.
All of the cartridges must be collected. By disposing them around the hunting preserve, hunters not only cause unrecoverable damage to the environment but also show their low level of ethics and non-compliance with Croatian environmental laws.
Even though he is unaware of the law, the hunter is always held responsible for his acts and compliance or non-compliance with the law. Therefore, we again invite our dear hunting guest to pay maximal attention as to where and what they shoot at and to adhere to the law at all times during a hunt.
Our organization reserves the right to cease the hunt at the moment when the specified annual quota has been achieved by species.
In the above case the hunter shall not be entitled to a refund (exclusive club and quota users) but may continue to shoot other species, migratory and non-migratory.

DOCUMENTS

If the hunter arrives in Croatia with weapons, he must present his passport.
If the hunter comes without weapons, it will be sufficient to present his identity card.
A valid, international document for a temporary export of hunting weapons, gun license, and the Italian hunting license is required.
As regards dogs, it is necessary to present the international rabies inoculation veterinary certificate issued not more than 6 (six) months and not less than 15 (fifteen days) before the arrival in the Republic of Croatia.

WEAPONS

Every hunter may bring 1-2 guns of different calibres and provided with necessary documents, namely, the gun license and a temporary export document, as set out above.
Any weapons must be declared to Croatian police authorities at the customs both when arriving in Croatia and when leaving the country.
Two-shot self-loading (automatic) rifles are allowed.
It should be pointed out that before crossing the Croatian border, it is necessary to cross the border of the Republic of Slovenia and to comply with their laws and regulations. We recommend that any weapons, dogs and game or meat (on return) be declared to Slovenian border authorities.
Because of all the above customs formalities, including transit through Slovenia, we kindly ask our hunters to make sure they plan enough time for travel.
Our organization is continuously making efforts to simplify the existing customs formalities at Croatian borders. However, since this is the question of police and customs competence, patience on part of hunters is highly appreciated.
We should also point out the fact that we also provide the service of weapon lease.
Our organization possesses a special license which allows us to provide the service of weapon safe-keeping for a period of up to three months. If a hunter wants the above service, he must declare the weapon to the border police at Croatian border crossing, and then fill out a special form at the customs.
This is a most convenient service for our hunters, members of the CLUB and QUOTA programs, but also for our everyday guests.
However, the hunter must comply with relevant Italian laws and regulations.


AMMUNITION

Every hunter is allowed to bring his own ammunition up to a maximum of 150 pieces for two-loaders, and 25 for a carbine.
Prior to accessing the hunting ground, the Master of the hunt shall check the calibre. Calibre must correspond to the ones set out in the table above. Environmentally friendly ammunition is welcome. For the roe-buck and wild boar hunting a rifled-barrel gun is obligatory as well as ammunition of at least 6,5 mm 1.000 joule, and 7 mm 2.500 joule, respectively. Wild boar shooting is also allowed with a smooth-barrel gun from a distance of up to 40 m, but only with Brenneke ammunition.
As regards gamebird shooting, hunters are kindly asked to use environmentally friendly ammunition, and not to use magnum ammunition for the roe-buck hunting, due to its oversized calibre.

At small game kill, participants of the hunt are allowed to use fluted weapons and charge with respect of following policy:

As a policy exception at Wild Boar kill it is allowed to use hunting shotgun and the greatest distance of shooting allowed is up to 40 meters.
At Wild Boar kill participants of the hunt are allowed to use smooth-barrel gun with respect of the policy as follows:

DOGS

Gamebird hunting without a dog is not allowed.
Hare hunting is not allowed with hound dogs.
Dogs are allowed to enter Croatia if provided with an updated veterinary certificate as specified above and if inoculated not less than 15 days and not more than 6 months prior to their arrival to Croatia.
Young dogs that cannot work are not allowed to hunt. One should point out that there are special dog training programs available.
Any undisciplined dogs or dogs, behaving in an inappropriate manner, shall be sent off the ground immediately. In that case the hunter shall not be entitled to any refund whatsoever.
Every hunter is allowed to hunt with up to two dogs at the same time.
We provide the dog keeping service.
Dogs will not be admitted to hotel rooms regardless of the kind and size of the dog.