Hunting in Serbia: woodcock, partridge, ducks and geese

Why Serbia

Serbia is a destination for migratory birds and resident game: woodcock in the hills, partridge on the plains of the south, and ducks and geese in Vojvodina, two to three hours from Belgrade airport. It is not part of the European Union, so guns and cartridges have to be declared and paperwork should be prepared in advance.

Game and seasons

Seasons change every year and by area. According to the organisers:

Game	Indicative period
Woodcock	mid-October to end of January; best results between early November and end of December
Ducks	until 1 March, with the best period between September and March
Geese (white-fronted and bean goose)	in winter, in wheat and maize fields
Partridge	ask the agency for the dates of the current season

Dates must be confirmed for the current season.

How it works

• Woodcock: hunted on hill ground, from 500 metres up to 20 km from the hunting lodge, with the highest point of the estate at 1,100 metres. Weather and soil moisture matter a lot.
• Partridge: on an area of over 10,000 hectares of plains and hills, with pointing dogs. The agency speaks of at least ten coveys met each day with experienced dogs.
• Ducks and geese: in Vojvodina, on lakes covering about 800 hectares and on a canal 6 km long. Geese are hunted mostly in the fields.
• What the packages on the site include: full board in a double room, a guide or escort and organisation of the hunt. Some also include an invitation letter, an interpreter and hunting documents; the game you shoot is often included.

Documents and firearms

The rules are set by the authorities and differ from country to country. If a package does not say which documents are included, ask the agency. In general, organisers ask for:

• ID card or passport (for some destinations, a copy to be sent in advance).
• A valid hunting licence from your own country.
• Hunting insurance valid abroad.
• If you bring your own gun: the firearm paperwork and, for hunters from EU countries, the European Firearms Pass listing the guns (usually two at most). Hunters living outside the EU should ask the agency what applies to them.
• Details and copies to send in advance: organisers usually ask, at least 15 days before departure, for a copy of your gun and hunting licences, your passport details and a description of your guns with make and calibre.
• Dogs: you need a European pet passport with a rabies vaccination and a veterinary health certificate issued within 15 days before entry.

Guides mention a maximum of two guns on the European Firearms Pass and limits on cartridges (for example up to 250 a day per hunter, with a total of 1,000, and fewer for rifles). There may be small charges at the border for bringing in a gun. For up-to-date details, and to take game home, ask the agency.

Available packages

At the end of this article you will find the packages currently available on Wildoora. You send a booking request and the agency contacts you: there is no online payment.

To check before you travel

This article is a general guide and does not replace the official rules. Seasons, limits and documents can change and depend on your situation: always ask the agency organising your trip to confirm.