Montenegro is a favourite with woodcock hunters: its mountains and inland forests lie on the autumn woodcock passage, while rock partridge are hunted on the rocky slopes.
The country offers very different habitats in a small space. Around Lake Skadar and on the coast the quarry is mainly migratory birds such as ducks, snipe and quail; the woods near Danilovgrad hold woodcock and pheasant, while the mountainous interior has rock partridge, wood pigeon and, in some areas, ungulates. There is a lot of walking, through marshes, flooded woods and rocky ground, and the effort depends on the area.
Montenegro is not in the European Union: for an Italian hunter this means documents, guns and dogs need a little more care than on a trip within the EU. That is why many choose a package in which the agency takes care of permits, reception and guide.
On Wildoora you will find woodcock and rock partridge packages offered by local agencies and hunting lodges, with accommodation, guides and dogs already organised.
For woodcock the key time is autumn, during the passage, while rock partridge outings follow the local hunting calendar. The industry sources we consulted indicate a season for migratory game that generally runs from August to late winter, with woodcock concentrated between autumn and winter, but exact dates per species differ from source to source and change over time. Each package shows availability and the agency confirms the exact days. In the sources consulted, hunting is allowed on days set by the local calendar (Sundays and public holidays under the general rules, with specific provisions for foreign hunters): ask the agency which days you can hunt.
Montenegro is not in the European Union. To enter you need a document valid for travel abroad: check the up-to-date entry requirements before departure. To hunt you need your valid Italian hunting licence and the Montenegrin hunting permit, which in packages is normally arranged by the agency together with the fee for foreign hunters.
If you travel with your own gun, industry sources say the hunter must personally submit to the police headquarters (questura) the declaration for taking the gun out of Italy. The European Firearms Pass lists your guns with their serial numbers, which must match exactly those marked on the gun. Because Montenegro is outside the EU, ask the questura and the agency about the authorisations needed on entry.
To keep things simple, many packages include gun rental (for example semi-automatics from well-known makes): in that case the paperwork is much lighter. For small game and migratory birds smooth-bore shotguns are the usual choice; on cartridges follow the agency's advice.
We found no reliable official limits on how many cartridges a foreign hunter may bring into Montenegro, so we give no figures. For small ducks such as garganey, one industry source suggests medium shot sizes (no. 5, 6 or 7).
Ask the agency how many cartridges you may bring and which are suitable for the species, and always declare them together with the gun.
For Italian dogs, industry sources list a health booklet, a passport and a veterinary certificate. Many Montenegro packages instead include local dogs or kennel boxes for your own dogs: ask the agency whether you can use yours.
According to one industry guide, Montenegro is among the non-EU countries from which a dog can re-enter the EU without a blood test (microchip, rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before and an official health certificate), but country lists change: check with your local vet authority or official vet before departure.
In the areas around Lake Skadar and on the coast, in marshy zones and flooded woods, the quarry is mainly ducks, snipe and quail, while woodcock are sought in the woods around Danilovgrad. Further inland, around Nikšić and in the mountains, rock partridge, wood pigeon and other mountain game are reported.
You hunt on foot, often with local guides, and according to industry sources hides or boats can be used in wetland areas. For rock partridge, a Montenegrin regulation banned hunting for a period up to the end of 2018: check with the agency that it is now allowed in your package's area.
According to one industry source, taking game to Italy requires a permit from the Montenegrin ministry, which normally authorised agencies request rather than the hunter; the same source notes that some species, such as garganey, cannot in any case be imported into Italy.
EU rules are strict on bringing meat from non-EU countries for personal use: ask the agency, before booking, what you can take home and with which documents, and take nothing for granted.
Some packages include reception at the Albanian border; transfers to and from Montenegro are generally at the hunter's expense, so check what is included on the package page. Accommodation is normally in hunting lodges or houses on full board.
The best time is generally autumn, during the passage, but exact dates follow the local calendar and vary from year to year: the agency confirms them when you send your request.
Mountain hunting can be demanding. In your request you can ask the agency about difficulty and type of terrain.
It depends on the organisation: many packages include dogs and local guides. Ask the agency if you want to use your own dog.
Choose the package and send your booking request. There is no online payment: the agency contacts you directly to confirm dates, details and conditions.
Yes: a document valid for travel abroad, your valid Italian hunting licence and the Montenegrin hunting permit, which the agency normally arranges. If you bring your own gun you also need the European Firearms Pass and entry authorisations: check everything with the agency.
Many packages include it. That spares you most of the paperwork for bringing your own gun: check on the package page that rental is included.
It depends on the organisation. An Italian dog needs a health booklet, passport and veterinary certificate; check the return rules with your local vet authority and ask the agency whether you can use it in the hunt.
Hunting days are set by the hunting calendar; the sources consulted indicate Sundays and public holidays, with specific rules for foreign hunters. The agency tells you the actual days of your package.
According to an industry source it requires an authorisation from the Montenegrin ministry that the agency normally requests, and EU veterinary and customs rules still apply. Ask the agency before booking how it handles bringing game home.