General Information to Hunting in Hungary - Important Notes

Foreign Hunters

Every hunter requires a valid Hungarian hunting licence which is issued when the hunting contract is signed. This means that foreign nationals are only allowed to hunt in Hungary when they are in possession of a hunting licence issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (FVM) in their name (non EU hunters also need a firearms import licence). Licences are only issued where a valid contract is signed with a hunting agent or organiser (e.g. SEVAKO Ltd). Such a hunting licence is only issued to a guest when he/she is in possession of a valid hunting licence or a hunting education certificate in his/her home country. The Hungarian hunting license will only be available online from 2024, and hunting guests will only receive a printable certificate with a QR code in .pdf format. The hunting licence, firearms licences (European Firearms Certificate or firearms import licence) and passport must accompany the hunting guest at all times during hunting. Hunting may only take place in the areas cited in the contract and for the game listed.

Rules in the host country - Hunting Law in Hungary

All hunting guests are obliged to accept the legally binding rules in the country of hunting. All these also apply to the trophy evaluation. The hunting organisation has the right to stop a hunt, without compensation to the client, should these regulations be violated. A fine is due if a client shoots an animal during the closed season or against the orders of the professional hunter or the hunting organisation, or shoots an animal in their absence. Hunting will be terminated if a client is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the client can be banned from further hunting. In this case, the full costs of the hunt and the total amount of the accommodation has to be paid.

The hunting seasons for Hungarian game animals are to be found in the current price list of SEVAKO Ltd.

Information for hunters on entering or leaving Hungary

Hunting guests from the European Union

Passport: At the EU's internal borders, within the "Schengen Area" (which includes Hungary as of December 21, 2007), foreigners' personal documents are no longer checked; they can simply drive through. However, random checks (including customs checks) can be conducted at any time by mobile customs officers within a 30-50 km radius of the border, as is customary in the EU.

Importing firearms

A firearms import licence is not necessary for EU citizens as stated in the New York Agreement. Firearms are allowed accompanied by a European Firearms Certificate.
An invitation, written by Sevako Ltd must accompany the firearms. It is not necessary to declare the firearms at the border, you can simply drive through. At airports, however, firearms will be strictly controlled.
To export trophies the paid invoice and trophy document are necessary, should there be a control by customs.

Information for hunting guests NOT from the European Union:

Import and export of firearms: With an invitation letter from Sevako Ltd and with a declaration form or your own hunting licence/firearms papers you can apply for a firearms import licence at the Hungarian border at the Budapest-Ferihegy Airport (costs approx. € 13,-). The firearms import licence is to be handed back to the officials on leaving the country.

To export trophies from Hungary/EU (in case you wish to take your trophies with you) you need the paid invoice, the trophy evaluation certificate(s) and a veterinary certificate from the Hungarian State Veterinarian. These documents will be given to you either by Sevako Ltd or the hunting company itself. Please find out what papers your country requires to import trophies before you leave.

EU Firearms Certificate Number:

The EU Firearms Certificate Number (or the number of the home firearms possession card) is required to apply for a Hungarian hunting license, even if the hunter does not carry their own firearm in Hungary. By providing their EU Firearms Certificate Number (or firearms possession card number), the hunter confirms that he is trained and officially authorized to transport, carry or use any hunting weapon on a hunt.

Transport of Arms and Ammunition

Arms and ammunition must be transported separately. In public areas, towns, hotels, restaurants etc. and in vehicles arms may only be carried unloaded and in a gun case. On Airplanes: The firearms must be transported in a stable gun case, the ammunition in its original box - max. 5 kg - in a separate case which must be checked in. Several airlines require that the bolt is removed from your rifle and transported separately but not in your hand luggage. It is recommended to take the rifle scope off your rifle, to wrap it well and put in the gun case. Please note! Some airlines refuse to carry firearms. Please check with the airline before booking. Foreign guests are not allowed to give his/her firearms or ammunition to other persons.

Trophy transportation

All trophies belong to SEVAKO Ltd or the hunting organisation until they have fully been paid for. Unless other arrangements have been made, trophies will not be delivered or handed over until the full hunting and trophy costs and any shipping or postal costs have been paid.

Taking away of trophies

The trophies remain in the property of Sevako or of the hunting area until they are not paid completely. If there is no other arrangement, the trophies will be delivered only after the payment of charges of hunting, trophies and delivery. The price of delivery are to be found in the current price list of Sevako.

Trophy Measurement

In Hungary the trophies of red and fallow deer are weighed with full skull and top jaw without deductions twenty-four hours after having been cleaned. Roebuck skulls will have 90 g deducted. The trophy price of moufflon is calculated by taking the middle length of both horns, wild boar by the average length of both tusks along the outside edge.

In Hungary, all trophies must be presented to the hunting authority for official evaluation! Trophies may only be exported from Hungary accompanied by the official evaluation certificates.

Protocol of hunting

After the hunting, a shooting list is made up which has to be signed by the hunting guest and the professional hunter in companion. In this protocol, all services and shots are written down that build the base of the final account if these services and shots are organised by SEVAKO. The hunting guest declares with his/her signature that the facts written down in the protocol are correct. All these are valid especially for the measure of trophies, for the number of trophies and for the services written down in the protocol. The payment of the account is due after receive of the account without delay. If there is no other arrangement, the payment has to be transacted through our agency. Further, the protocol is the essential condition for complaint. Complaints have to be done on the spot and you have to ask for help to remedy the problem. If you do not get any help for resolving the problem, you have to take a protocol about the complaint in English and in Hungarian immediately and the protocol should be signed by the local hunting organizer, the hunting guest and the interpreter. It is important to mention the word "Complaint". No complaints are accepted after leaving the spot.

Bad shots and the cause of a missed killing of game are remarked in the hunting protocol.

At the request of the hunter, stricken game is hunted for after the hunting guest left the area, if he engages himself to pay the shot price and the transport costs of the trophy. The weight of trophy determined by the management of the hunting area has to be accepted.

Sevako do not take responsibility for any arrangements with the hunting area, which are not confirmed written by Sevako, even if these arrangements are noted in the hunting protocol.

No guarantee for shot

SEVAKO does not guarantee in principle that the guest really shoots/can shoot the contracted game. SEVAKO will make all efforts possible to ensure the opportunity for the hunting guest to shoot the contracted game. In isolated cases, different rules need a written arrangement.

Travel Cancellation Insurance

Unfortunately, in certain, well-founded cases, you may have to cancel your booked trip. This is not only extremely frustrating, but also very costly. Booked hunts for certain game species are very difficult to resell at short notice. Offers are limited and must be sold. For this reason, all tour operators around the world have relatively strict cancellation policies. Since the hunting trip price does not include travel cancellation insurance, we recommend that you contact your local insurance provider for this matter.

Premature interruption of the trip

If a trip is canceled prematurely by the customer for whatever reason, the full package price must always be paid. In this case, all additional costs for rebooking, additional transfers, hotel costs, etc., must be borne by the customer.

Further Information

All clients are responsible themselves for all passport, visa, customs, exchange and other regulations under public law.

Emergency telephone

 If you encounter any problems upon arrival or during your hunting trip, you can contact one of our staff members by phone at any time. During our opening hours, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., please call our office at 0036/89-313 578. Outside of office hours, please use the emergency telephone number. This number is to be found on the hunting contract sent to you by SEVAKO.