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Hunting & Licence to Hunt in Luxembourg

Information on hunting in Luxembourg: permits, the season, restricted areas.

Hunting is strictly regulated in Luxembourg in terms of the species that may be hunted and the people who may hunt. A person must undergo exams and evaluations in order to get a permit. Below is information on getting a hunting licence (permis de chasse) and hunting seasons in Luxembourg.

The main hunting association in Luxembourg is the Fédération Saint-Hubert des Chasseurs du Grand Duché de Luxmebourg (FSHCL)

FSHCL
At: 15 rue de l'Ecole, L-9167 Mertzig
Tel: 26 88 09 88
e-mail
Website (in German)

Species Hunted in Luxembourg

Species hunted in Luxembourg include roe deer, wild boar, red deer, fox, hare, pigeon, pheasant and doe.

Hunting Seasons

Hunting seasons are published annually and communicated by the FSHCL. The hunting year starts on 1 August and ends on 31 July. Exact dates for the hunting seasons vary according to the species hunted however, in general they are:

Big game: from mid August to mid December, except for wild pigs (whole year)
Small game: from October to December
Waterfowl: from September to January
Birds: from August to January
Fox: from July to February

Hunting Licences in Luxembourg

No one may hunt in Luxembourg without a valid hunting licence (permis de chasse).

Hunters must successfully complete a three part exam before becoming eligible for a licence. The overseeing body for these exams is the Hunting Department (Service de la Chasse) of the Administration des Eaux et Forêts.

Administration des Eaux et Forêts
Service de la Chasse
At: 16, rue Eugène Ruppert, L-2453 Luxembourg

Application procedures

There is a cut-off date each year for applications for the hunting exam (usually at the beginning of April). Check with the Ministry of Environment for the exact date.

Application forms can be downloaded and then must be sent to the following address along with an inscription tax (the amount due and payment methods is indicated on the application form):

Administration des Eaux et Forêts,
Service de la Chasse
16, rue Eugène Ruppert
L-2453 Luxembourg
To download the application form: Click here (PDF in German and French)

The Hunting Exam

Candidates must complete an obligatory training course to prepare for the exam and must be at least 17 years old in the year that the exam will take place. The practical training takes place before the theory exam.

Practical training (stage pratique)

The practical training takes place with a hunting tenant, chosen by the candidate, who must not have committed any hunting, fishing or environment offences in the last ten years. The candidate receives a training booklet (carnet de stage) at the beginning of the practical training. This must be filled in by the hunting tenant each time the candidate attends training. The candidate must prove that they have attended a minimum of 20 sessions.

During the practical training the following subjects are studied:

Knowledge of wildlife and recognising game and animal tracks
Management of hunting estates
Knowledge of hunting techniques
Hunting safety rules and issues
Dressing of big game

Theory course

Preparation for the theory exam is organised by the Administration des Eaux et Forêts and includes 30 two hour lessons. Lessons take place once a week at either Luxembourg City or Mertzig from October to January and then twice a week from January to March.

The lessons are in Luxembourgish and all documents are in German except the forestry and hunting legislation documents, which are in French.

The following subjects are studied:

Hunting law
Types of game
Knowledge of hunting techniques
Knowledge of wildlife
Theory of ecology and nature conservation including protection of the fauna, flora and birds
Theory of agricultural and forestry issues and their influence on game
Hunting ethics and local traditions
Knowledge of arms and munitions, how to use them and security rules
Hunting dogs
Nature preservation legislation

Sports shooting training

Shooting practice and training is organised by the Administration des Eaux et Forêts and the FSHCL who provide all arms and munitions. Candidates are not authorised to bring their own arms or munitions during the practice or the exam itself.

The hunting exam

The hunting exam is divided into three parts and include

A written exam
An oral and practical exam
Shooting exam

To pass, all three parts of the exam must be successfully completed within a five year period.

The written exam consists of a multiple choice questionnaire. To pass the candidate must have a minimum of 80 points out of 120.

The oral and practical exam tests the candidate on their hunting knowledge and includes practical examples. The exam may not last longer than 30 minutes.

The shooting exam includes gun manipulation and security rules, simulations of shooting and shooting a moving target.

Once the candidate has successfully completed all parts of the exam they are issued with a certificate (certificat d'aptitude à la chasse). If the candidate fails the exam they may take that part of the exam again the same year. If they fail the second time then they have to wait until the next year to take the exam again.

For further information on all aspects of the exam: Click here (PDF in German and French)

Delivery of the Hunting Licence

The hunting license is available from the hunting licence department (Service permis de chasse) of the Ministry of the Environment (Ministère de l'Environnement). It can be applied for by post or in person. The licence must be renewed each year.

Service Permis de chasse
At: 18 montée de la Pétrusse, L-2918 Luxembourg
Open: Monday to Friday from 09:00-11:30

When applying for the hunting licence for the first time, the person will need to provide a certified copy of their hunting certificate and an affidavit from the local municipal office (commune). The hunter may need to provide a police record (extrait du casier judiciaire) to the commune in order to obtain the affidavit (avis). This can be obtained from the Public Prosecution Office (Parquet).

Foreigners who have a hunting permit from their home country and wish to obtain a Luxembourg hunting permit should contact the Ministry of the Environment to find out if this is possible.

Tel: 24 78 68 06

Annual fee

An annual fee has to be paid to the Administration de l'Enregistrement et des Domaines by bank transfer or in cash before the hunting licence can be delivered.

For information and addresses on where to pay the fee: Click here (in French)

Once payment has been made, the person will receive a stamp as proof that they have paid the annual fee. A hunting licence will not be delivered without this stamp.

Insurance

A hunting permit will only be delivered if the hunter provides proof of insurance (assurance responsabilité civile chasse) which must be valid until the end of the hunting season (1 August to 31 July).

Foreigners Hunting in Luxembourg

Foreigners who wish to hunt in Luxembourg may apply for a one to five day permit from a District Commissioner (commissaire de district). Because of the system of hunting estates in Luxembourg, they must send proof of an invitation from a hunting estate tenant. A request must be made in writing only to one of the following addresses.

Commissariat de District de Luxembourg
At: 4, rue de Nassau, L-2213 Luxembourg
Tel: 26 44 61-1
Fax: 26 44 03 66
e-mail
Commissariat de District de Diekirch
Postal Address: B.P. 153, L-9202 Diekirch
Tel: 80 35 30-1
Fax: 80 28 60
e-mail
Commissariat de District de Grevenmacher
Postal Address: B.P. 24, L-6701 Grevenmacher
Tel: 75 00 14-1
Fax: 75 88 19
e-mail