Apply for a hunting licence in Bavaria

Competent authority

Untere Jagdbehörde (Kreisverwaltungsbehörde / Landratsamt or Stadtverwaltung of the district-free city)

The competent untere Jagdbehörde depends on your main place of residence. You can find your competent authority via the BayernPortal by entering your postcode or place of residence.

The application is handled via the competent local authority, not by a central state body.

Find the authority

Minimum requirements

• Minimum age by type of hunting licence
• passed the hunter’s examination
• personal reliability and suitability
• valid hunting liability insurance

Step by step to a hunting licence

1. Find a hunting school and register: Look for a hunting school registered and recognised by Landesjagdverband Bayern (LJV), as direct registration for the examination is not possible and only participants notified by hunting schools are admitted.
2. Complete hunting training: Complete the theoretical and practical hunting training in accordance with § 7 JFPO, including shooting training (rifle and shotgun) and, where applicable, a trap-hunting course or submission of a waiver declaration.
3. Register for the hunter’s examination: Submit the fully completed and signed registration form in the original, with all required documents and proof of payment of the examination fee (280 €), to the LMG in Landshut no later than four weeks before the written examination date.
4. Sit the hunter’s examination: Take the hunter’s examination in the prescribed order: first the written part (100 multiple-choice questions, 100 minutes), then the oral part (6 subject areas) and finally the practical part (weapon handling and rifle shooting at 100 m).
5. Apply for a hunting licence: After passing the examination, apply to the lower hunting authority responsible for your main residence (Landratsamt or the city administration of the independent city) for the issuance of the Jagdschein and submit all required documents, including the hunter’s examination certificate, proof of insurance, certificate of good conduct and passport photos.
6. Receive your hunting licence: After your documents have been checked and the fee paid (e.g. 60 € for the annual hunting licence in Landkreis München), you will receive your Jagdschein; processing time is usually several weeks.

Documents

Initial application

• ID card or passport as a copy or photo
• Application for a Jagdschein
• Hunter’s examination certificate
• Proof of completed hunting liability insurance (insurance policy)
• Police certificate of good conduct
• 2 passport photos (with name and date of birth on the back) – to be submitted by post
• Enrolment certificate (only for forestry studies)
• Employer’s certificate (only for employment in the forestry service)

If moving from another Bundesland

• ID card or passport as a copy or photo
• Application for a Jagdschein
• Proof of completed hunting liability insurance (insurance policy)
• Police certificate of good conduct
• Hunter’s examination certificate
• Hunting invitation (only if resident outside Germany and applying for a Tagesjagdschein or Falknertagesjagdschein)
• Jagdschein from the authority responsible for the main residence abroad (only if resident outside Germany and applying for a Tagesjagdschein or Falknertagesjagdschein)

Application methods

Initial application

• Online: available
• In person: A personal appearance is possible in many places, but is usually offered only by prior appointment and limited to exceptional cases.
• Post: All Landratsämter examined accept the completed application form with the required documents sent by post.

Renewal

• Online: available
• In person: In-person renewal during opening hours is possible in many places, but is usually offered only by appointment.
• Post: Many Landratsämter explicitly request that renewal applications be submitted by post with the completed form, existing Jagdschein and insurance confirmation.

If lost

• In person (required): If lost, contact the lower hunting authority immediately. In the event of loss or theft, a report to the local police station is also required.
• Post: An application for the issue of a duplicate can be submitted in writing; the specific form must be used.

If moving

• Online: available
• In person: Personal appearance possible by appointment.
• Post: The application with all required documents can be submitted by post.

Online application

Processing time

Varies depending on the authority

Frequently asked questions

Who in Bavaria is responsible for conducting the hunter’s examination?

In Bavaria, responsibility for conducting the hunter’s and falconer’s examinations is centralised at the Bayerisches Landesamt für Maß und Gewicht (LMG) – Zentrale Jäger- und Falknerprüfungsbehörde, Röntgenstraße 1, 84030 Landshut. Since the JFPO amendment on 05.08.2024, this has been expressly regulated in § 1 JFPO. Direct registration is not possible; examination candidates must be notified by hunting schools registered and recognised by the LJV.

How long does it take to process a Jagdschein application in Bavaria?

A state-wide standard processing deadline is not laid down by law. In practice, you should expect several weeks’ processing time for initial applications; the City of Munich, for example, takes up to 4 Woeks to issue it. For straightforward renewals without interruption, processing may be quicker, but there is no binding deadline.

Is the hunter’s examination valid nationwide?

Yes. A hunter’s examination passed in one Bundesland is recognised in all other Bundesländer.