Can I go hunting without passing the exam and getting a permit in Croatia?
No — without the prescribed documents every outing with a gun is unauthorised hunting. To be allowed to hunt you need a hunting card (proof you passed the hunting exam, issued by the Croatian Hunting Federation, valid 5 years with an annual stamp), a written permit from the hunting-ground holder for the specific ground and — to shoot — a firearms licence for hunting weapons. Unauthorised hunting (without these) is an offence under the Hunting Act with a fine of 7,000 to 10,000 kuna, which is 929 to 1,327 € — the act is still written in kuna, and since 2023 the amounts apply in euro at the fixed rate of 7.53450. The myth "wild game belongs to no one" does not hold: all game is under a hunting-ground regime, and hunting in the closed season or of protected species can cross into a criminal offence.
📋 The rules
- Hunting card: proof of a passed hunting exam; issued by the Croatian Hunting Federation, valid 5 years with a valid annual stamp for the hunting year (Hunting Act).
- Permit to hunt: only a person carrying the card and a written permit from the hunting-ground holder for that ground may take part in a hunt.
- Firearms licence: only a person who also holds a firearms licence for keeping and carrying hunting weapons (issued by the police) may shoot game; the fee for the firearms-licence form is 5.31 € (40 kuna).
- Unauthorised hunting: hunting without the prescribed documents is an offence under the Hunting Act with a fine of 7,000 to 10,000 kuna = 929 to 1,327 € (the statute is still in kuna; applied in euro at the rate of 7.53450).
- Unlawful hunting: hunting in the closed season, of protected species or by a prohibited method is more serious than an offence and can be a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, with a prison sentence.
🔓 Exceptions
- Falconry and special regimes: hunting has regulated special forms (e.g. falconry) that require additional permits but do not waive the basic requirements of a card and permit.
- Protecting property: scaring off or preventing damage by game is not the same as hunting; killing game outside the prescribed procedure can still be an offence or a criminal offence.
- Vehicle collision with game: a collision with game on the road is not poaching, but it is reported; liability for the damage is determined by the rules of the Hunting Act, depending on fault.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Unauthorised hunting — without a card, permit or firearms licence — is fined 7,000 to 10,000 kuna, that is 929 to 1,327 € at the fixed rate, because the Hunting Act is still written in kuna. For a legal person (e.g. a hunting association) fines run to 10,000 to 24,000 kuna (1,327 to 3,185 €). Far more serious is unlawful hunting: hunting in the closed season, of protected or endangered species or by a prohibited method crosses into a criminal offence with a prison sentence, and the weapon and the catch are seized. An unexpected consequence: alongside the fine, the offender can have their weapon and hunting document seized, losing the right to hunt, and a hunting association may also bear damages to the game stock. That is why "just one outing without papers" is disproportionately expensive.
📎 Official sources
- zakon.hr — Hunting Act →
- Narodne novine — Hunting Act (NN 99/2018) →
- Ministry of Agriculture — hunting →
❓ Frequently asked
What do I need in order to hunt?
You need a hunting card with a valid annual stamp, a written permit from the hunting-ground holder for that ground and, to shoot, a firearms licence for hunting weapons. Without all of these, going out with a gun counts as unauthorised hunting.
How big is the fine for hunting without a permit?
Unauthorised hunting is fined 7,000 to 10,000 kuna, which is 929 to 1,327 €. The Hunting Act is still written in kuna, and since 2023 the amounts apply in euro at the fixed rate of 7.53450 kuna to the euro.
Is poaching a criminal offence?
Unauthorised hunting is an offence, but unlawful hunting — in the closed season, of protected species or by a prohibited method — can be a criminal offence under the Criminal Code with a prison sentence. In such cases the weapon and the catch are seized as well.
Is wild game in nature ownerless?
No — all game is under a hunting-ground regime and managed by the hunting-ground holder. That is why hunting without a permit, even on a seemingly open area, amounts to unauthorised or unlawful hunting.
Do I need a special firearms licence to hunt?
Yes, to shoot game you need a firearms licence for keeping and carrying hunting weapons, issued by the police. The fee for the firearms-licence form is 5.31 €, and without it you may only take part in a hunt without a weapon.
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