HOW TO GET A GUN LICENSE FOR HUNTING USE; STEP-BY-STEP EXPLANATION

How to get a hunting license

Every year, new hunters start their first hunting season; often these are people who have fathers or grandfathers who are hunters and to whom this immense passion is passed on, but sometimes there are those who want to get a license because they are passionate about it but do not have anyone in their family who has dedicated themselves to this activity, and then the first approaches may be more difficult.

Let us then see together what are all steps to follow to obtain a hunting license.

The first step in applying for a gun license for hunting use is to obtain a hunting license, which is obtained after public examination before a commission appointed by the relevant region.

In order to take the exam, an application with a revenue stamp and a copy of the medical certificate of psychophysical fitness with a date not earlier than 6 months.

This certificate is issued by ASLs or by physicians working in military or police facilities upon presentation of the certificatemedical history, previously issued by the family doctor, and a €16.00 revenue stamp.

The medical certificate Will also be required on other occasions for subsequent documents, to be attached finally also to the application for the issuance of a hunting rifle license.

The examinations, conducted in accordance with the procedures established by the regions, cover in particular The following subjects:

• Hunting legislation
• Zoology applied to hunting with practical tests of recognition of huntable species
• Hunting weapons and ammunition and related legislation
• Nature conservation and safeguard principles of agricultural production
• First aid standards

How to prepare and what to study for the exam

The first part of the exam consists of. a multiple-choice quiz test.

There are 20 quizzes covered in the written test with a maximum of 3 errors, thus 17 correct answers are required.

Those who pass this test will have to take an oral examination which instead covers the visual identification of stuffed animal species, both huntable and non-huntable, and also other questions regarding the usual topics covered previously in the quizzes.

Recognition of huntable and protected wildlife species can be done indiscriminately through stuffed animals or graphic cards or photos, or through digital images on monitors.

To prepare for the exam, a good hand comes from the regions themselves, which make the quizzes public, so they can be checked and downloaded directly from the Internet.

However, there are several texts, in addition to thecyclical organization of training courses by hunting associations.

Young enthusiasts born into hunting families are at a great advantage.

On the one hand, they will be able to know most of the zoology applied to hunting, so game, even non-huntable game as in hunting legislation, and on the other hand, they will already know much of weapons and ammunition for hunting, which as a percentage Will cover 50 to 60 percent of the total applications Of the quiz.

Just to give a couple of examples, you might be asked what is the natural environment of the chamois or partridge or what restocking is or what group a given dog breed belongs to.

On hunting legislation, questions may concern what is the law that regulates hunting activity or what are the species that can be hunted or not, how long a hunting license lasts, whether stalking hunting of woodcock or snipe is prohibited.

Questions about hunting weapons and ammunition plus related legislation

In the field of weapons, one finds questions about the composition of a cartridge and the function of its individual components, what unit of measurement a rifled carbine caliber is expressed in, what weapons can be used in hunting and their calibers.

Questions on nature conservation and safeguard principles of agricultural production

Regarding the quizzes pertaining to nature conservation and safeguarding agricultural production, the following is requested Knowledge of planting or harvest times, trusting the common sense of the individual hunter who avoids causing harm directly or through the passage of the dog over a field, as well as The permission or not to light fires during hunting activities Or, if allowed, The cutting of tree plants.


Other questions concern the best way not to harm game during mowing.

Questions about the main first aid regulations

It will be asked what heat stroke is and how to avoid it, how to perform a cardiac massage, how to recognize an adder, how to be able to transport a person with a suspected spinal fracture, or how to deal with loss of consciousness.

Applications for the census and selective harvesting of ungulates

In this case the questions can be very different.

In fact, in some regions there will be a subdivision according to game: the ideal caliber for a given game or the minimum allowed on deer, mouflon, or stag in selection, for example, will then be asked.


However, most of the questions will cover the anatomy, physiology, metabolism or morphology of wild, how it moults, dentition, age and sex classifications, distribution in the territory or how the age of the wild is determined, sexual dysmorphism, mating and birth periods.

Take organized courses and take many mock exams

However, as with most multiple-choice quizzes, whether for school, college, driver’s license or hunting license as in our case, to answer these questions in addition to knowing the subject, is importantUnderstand what the question asks and read the answers well.

People often make mistakes without realizing it because they misunderstand the question and are convinced that the given answer is the correct one.

Therefore, it is essential to practice before the exam by reading texts that explain how to approach and answer questions, or attending organized courses that help explain rather than teach the topics required on the exam.

It can also be very helpful to take many practice quizzes to get a feel for how they work; you can find plenty online to test yourself. If you would like to try some right away click here https://www.regione.toscana.it/-/materie-di-esame-e-materiale-di-preparazione-per-gli-esami-per-guardie-venatorie-volontarie

How to take the certificate of use and handling of weapons

This is another essential document for obtaining a hunting license. It should be obtained from the nearest TSN (National Shooting Range). To obtain it, one must submit:

• Medical certificate of mental and physical fitness
• Valid identification document
• Tax code
• Tax stamp € 16.00

The cost including course in the use of weapons, certificate and ammunition is around 90 / 100€.

Different discussion for those who have done military service, because you only need to submit a copy of your military discharge.

Having done so, then with the hunting license and the certificate of use or handling of weapons in hand, one can apply for a license to carry a rifle for hunting use or gun license

Cow to apply for the issuance of a hunting license

A rifle license for hunting use is valid throughout the country and has the duration of 6 years, renewed annually upon payment of government license fee and surcharge totaling 173.16 €.

The document is issued by the police station of jurisdiction of the territory of residence after the presentation of specific documentation and allows the possession, transportation and carrying of a weapon during hunting activity.

The application form, which is also available at the Police Headquarters, Public Security Station or Carabinieri Station, can be delivered in the following ways:

• By hand, the office issues a regular receipt
• By registered mail with return receipt
• Telematically, with delivery notification mode

In towns far from the police station and police station, however, the documents may be handed over to the Carabinieri barracks who will forward them to the police station after an initial assessment.

The application should be attached:

• Two telematic marks 16.00 euros to be applied one on the application and the other on the license
• The certification proving thepsychophysical fitness, issued by the A.S.L. of residence, or by medical-legal offices and military and State Police health facilities
• The certification attesting to thequalification for hunting activity
• The receipt of payment of the government concessions tax of Euro 168.00 plus a surcharge of Euro 5.16 (as provided for in Article 24 of Law No. 157 of February 11, 1992)
• The payment receipt of Euro 1.27 for the cost of the booklet valid for 5 years, to be paid for the first issuance and at the expiration of six years, by requesting from the Office where you intend to submit the request (Police-Carabinieri) the details of the current account of the corresponding Provincial Treasury of the State (the cost of the booklet is Euro 1.50 for the bilingual version)
• Two recent photos, passport size, bareheaded and half-length
• Certificate of fitness to handle weapons issued by a National Shooting Section
• A declaration substitutive statement in which the person concerned certifies that he or she that he/she is not in any of the legally stipulated obstructive conditions, the particulars of the persons living together and of he/she has not been recognized as a “conscientious objector” Pursuant to Law no. 230 of July 8, 1998, or to have filed an application for revocation of the objector status with the National Office for Civil Service (Body of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers), pursuant to Law no. 130 of August 2, 2007

How to renew your hunting license

At the expiration of the 6th year, a renewal application must be submitted and produced the same documentation as provided for issuance, with the exception of certification attesting to eligibility to practice hunting, certification regarding fitness to handle weapons, declaration that he/she has not been recognized as a “conscientious objector,” or an application for revocation of the objector status, forwarded to the National Civil Service Office.

I times for which a gun license for hunting use is issued are more or less short, but in all cases within 90 days a response must be provided, then approval and signature or disapproval.

In order to go hunting, you will need some documents and payment bonds to carry with you, be in good standing and exhibit in case of request by public security officers. Let’s see what they are.

Insurance for hunting practice

Aside from the gun permit, which is the state license to hold, carry and carry a weapon while hunting (however, let us not forget that such a weapon cannot be carried outside the hunting context, thus outside of anything that is not purely inherent to hunting activity), to be in order will also need insurance, with the purpose of ensuring third-party liability for any damage caused by the handling of weapons while hunting.

The law defines ceilings at an average of €516,456.90 of which €387,342.67 is for each injured person and €129,114.22 for damage to animals and property.

There is also an accident insurance policy for the hunter with a limit of € 51,645.69.

In addition, there are insurances specific valid on injuries to dogs and for damage done to third parties.

The hunting associations , which can also be referred to as hunters’ unions, address this issue by offering insurance packages that are specific and expanded from the minimum ones required by law.

In addition to hunting associations , most insurance companies offer policies for the practice of hunting.

The term is annual, as is the cost to be incurred, which can be changed at each renewal, for example by adding dogs or increasing the limits, varying the annual cost from a minimum of 80 € on average up to 120 / 130 €.

Hunting badge and registration with territorial hunting areas (A.T.C)

Another document required for hunting activity is the hunting card. This allows hunting in the A.T.C. (Ambiti Territoriali di Caccia) of residence and elsewhere.

The hunting card Is valid throughout the entire national territory and is issued by the hunter’s municipality of residence.

The requirements for applying for the card are:

• Possession of hunting license
• Payment of government license fee. Valid for one year, but expires on the day the gun license is validated
• Payment of the regional concession fee, valid for one year and expires according to the date of payment
• Payment of the A.T.C. fee. Valid for one year and expires at the year of the previous payment
• Good practice will be to always carry the copy of the weapons and ammunition possession report, so that it can be easily matched in case of detention by public security organs.

The hunting badge is a means of controlling weekly hunting outings, which we recall are 3 out of 5 days allowed between Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, while Tuesday and Friday are hunting silence days.

The day and ATC in which you are hunting must be marked as soon as you get out of the car and ready to start the hunt, as well as the number of the game birds shot as soon as they are picked up from the ground.

The badge will make it possible to checkthe species and quantities taken, also based on the permits to kill in the right periods, the daily number and finally the seasonal number as specified in the hunting calendar established and issued by the Region.

In this sense, the badge at the end of the hunting season must be returned within the established deadlines to the municipality of residence or, in case of change of residence, to the municipality that issued it, so that they can check whether any irregularities have been made.

The mentoring required of new hunters.

Very important is the case in which a new hunter enters hunting with his own weapon and that is during the first year of his license: in fact, during this period the novice must be accompanied by another hunter who has held a hunting license for at least three years.

A kind of “pink slip” for those who have taken the exam and are waiting for practice.

In both cases, a more experienced person, a veteran, Will introduce and empower the novice to the use and handling of the weapon during the hunting trip, which in the end is the most important thing to avoid unpleasant inconveniences and dangerous accidents to people in the first place, but also to auxiliaries or other animals and things.

Although aiming is a characteristic of the individual, the more experienced will also help the beginner to shoot And to do it more or less well. In the early days it is always advisable to go out consistently to test yourself in as many encounters with wild animals as possible.

It helps a lot for new hunters to attend shooting ranges, you will gain more confidence in your own means and learn to deftly handle your weapon. In fact, during the closing of the season many hunters take up skeet shooting to stay “in training.”

Shadowing a more experienced hunter is useful for learning ways and times of huntingto a given species, although obviously experience, made up of fruitful outings as well as burning disappointments, is necessary to learn more.

Those few months as an “armed escort” will be used to learn How to approach the hunting ground or how to make a shed with a few things that can be found directly nearby for a thrushes or woodpigeon hunt, or if the companion has a seasonal fixed stalking permit for thrushes, woodpigeons or ducks, you will learn how a fixed stakeout works, hunting, routes, how to set up live calls, and when to shoot.

Others, on the other hand, will be able to teach hunting with the dog, whether it is for stalking or following, and perhaps reveal some valuable secrets, how to become a specialist in a certain hunt, strategies, How to start a line and how best to beat the ground to the search for the wild, how to approach the dog and the wild to get the upper hand, but also how to understand what the remittance will be in case of premature involo or pan.

In all cases, the hunt will always be a continuous and exciting experience, with days between highs and lows: the important thing will be to live them fully and always with the same enthusiasm.

Have fun, but always be attentive and responsible.

And even though today may have gone wrong, there is always tomorrow to make up for it.

Good luck, new recruits!