Congratulations on successfully passing the hunting exam! We are extremely pleased to be able to congratulate you on obtaining the "Green Baccalaureate". In the following we would like to explain to you which steps you now have to take in order to acquire your first own weapon.

Step 1: Take the hunter's exam

First of all, you have the possibility to acquire your hunting license in one of numerous renowned hunting schools. There are hunting schools in every federal state, and there are about 250 of them in Germany. Here the offers vary very strongly. In addition to weekend courses, intensive courses lasting several weeks with subsequent examination and even evening courses are offered. There are also special individual courses for busy people and modern online courses with accompanying attendance phases that are popular. For a comprehensive overview, we recommend that you go online to find out more about the hunting schools in your area and the courses they offer. For this purpose, we recommend a visit to our platform Jagdschulen.org.

Step 2: Get your hunting license

After successfully passing the hunter's exam, you can apply for a hunting license, for which you will receive a certificate from the hunting school. It should be noted, however, that before a hunting license is issued, which at the same time includes the right to purchase firearms, a reliable examination of your suitability by the authorities takes place. Your reliability with regard to the possession of weapons will be checked. This check includes, among other things, an examination of your police record. As this process can take time, it is advisable to submit the relevant applications to the responsible authority in advance or to inform them about your hunting training. This will allow you to be checked early on while you are still in training, thus expediting the issuance of your hunting license. In order to prepare for this step, it is advisable to contact the relevant lower hunting authority at an early stage. If you are unsure which one this is, the local public order office can help you.

Step 3: Weapon cabinet

Before purchasing a firearm, it is of utmost importance to ensure that you can store it properly. To do this, you will need a suitable gun safe. We strongly recommend choosing a protection class of 0, 1 or higher. Considering stricter gun laws and increasing regulations on gun ownership, a higher protection class minimizes the likelihood that you may be forced to purchase a new cabinet in the near future. Class A or B gun cabinets may only be used as old stock since July 6, 2017.

Step 4: Gun purchase

To purchase your first gun, all that is needed is your hunting license. It is recommended to purchase a used bolt action rifle in one of the calibers .308 Win., .30-06 Spr. or 8x57 IS as your first hunting weapon.

Step 5: Register the weapon

When you purchase a firearm, you will receive a declaration of acquisition. Within 14 days - but preferably immediately - we recommend that you contact your firearms authority. In most cases, this is the authority that issued your hunting license or can at least provide more detailed information about it. There you will present the confirmation of your suitable gun cabinet, including the delivery bill and invoice, the declaration of acceptance of the gun and the form provided by the authority. You can ask the authority about this form. After you have submitted all the required documents, you will be issued a weapon possession card. Important: For the acquisition of a handgun, a preliminary note is required in the weapon possession card. For subsequent purchases of weapons, you will need both your weapons possession card and proof of your entries in the National Weapons Register. You can easily obtain this proof from your firearms authority.

Alternative: Borrowing a weapon

If you have been invited to a hunt, for example, but do not yet have your own weapon, you can borrow a weapon from a person who is also a hunter or shooter. In order to do so, it is generally necessary to have an acquisition authorization, i.e. a valid hunting license or a gun ownership card. Since you do not have your own weapon yet, you do not have a WBK yet - in this case your hunting license is sufficient as an acquisition authorization. However, you must carry your identity card and the loan certificate, on which your name and address as well as all important details of the borrowed weapon must be entered. The borrower also has a loan certificate with the exact same information as a receipt - so he can explain, for example, during a routine check of his weapons storage, why not all weapons are in the cabinet.

We hope we have given you a good overview of what you need to consider when you get your first gun and wish you good luck with your hunt. Good hunting!