How to be a hunter. Training and taking an exam.

To become a hunter, State Forest Service must be given a hunter's certificate.

First you need to go through a training course for hunters. Such courses shall be offered by a number of training providers list (with informative meaning) can be found on the SFS website. When the course is completed, a training statement is received.

The SFS shall then pass the hunter's examination — theoretical part and practical shooting test. The SFS shall publish on its website times and places of hunter's examinations. With hunter's examination issues and inspection programme can be consulted on the SFS website.

Before taking an exam:

Shall be submitted to the SFS master forest application for the hunter's examination(not later than five days before the examination);

to pay state fee on the taking of an examination (this can be done with a card in the VMD);

the submission shall be accompanied by a copy of the training course statement, one photograph and a document that the State fee has been paid (if it has not been done at the SFS).

The hunter's exam arrives,

taking the original, passport or ID card of the training course statement.

When the theoretical part of the examination has been successfully completed, the practical examination in the shooting range is followed by shooting with a smooth-bore hunting weapon (shotgun).

The results of the examination shall be communicated on-the-spot by If the examination has been successfully completed, a hunter's certificate issued by the VMD within 15 working days may be obtained (to pay the national fee for issuing the certificate). The results of the examination shall be valid for three years: if the hunter's certificate is not removed during that period, the hunter's examination shall be re-imposed.

If the hunter wants to purchase a barrel hunting weapon (carbine) for the first time, a separate shooting test with a carbine must be completed and the hunter must be at least 21 years old. It is necessary to submit to the VMD headquarters before testing application for an examination in a shooting with a barrel gun and pay the state fee.

The hunter's certificate gives the right to purchase a hunting firearm (shotgun or carbine). To obtain the necessary documents for the purchase of a weapon, you need to turn to National police.

How to become the head of the hunt

Engine hunting or jamming (propulsion) must not be organised without the driver of the hunt. In order for the hunter to manage propulsion activities, he must receive the State Forest Service hunting driving licence.

First to receive a hunter's certificate and then the SFS needs to be to pass the hunting driver's examination which has the right to do for hunters with a three-year seniority. The hunting driver's examination may be prepared independently. The SFS shall publish on its website times and places for the examination of the driver of the hunt. With hunting driver's examination issues and inspection programme can be consulted on the SFS website.

Before taking an exam:

• Shall be submitted to the SFS master forest application for the examination of the hunting driver (not later than five days before the examination);
• pay the national fee for taking an examination (this can be done with a card on the SFS);
• one photograph and document shall be attached to the application that the State fee has been paid (if it has not been done at the WMD).

The hunting driver's exam comes with a passport or ID card.

The results of the examination shall be communicated on-the-spot by If the examination has been successfully completed, a hunting driving licence issued by the VMD may be obtained within 15 working days (the State fee for issuing the certificate shall be paid). The results of the examination shall be valid for three years: if the hunting driving licence is not removed during that period, the examination shall be re-imposed.

! Hunting is prohibited without a seasonal card.

Hunter's seasonal cards shall be issued to hunters by the forest offices of the State Forest Service on request. You can also request and receive a hunter's seasonal card for another hunter (hunters). The seasonal card can be received in any forestry sector.

In order to receive the hunter's seasonal card, the national fee must be paid (this can be done with a bank card located in the SFS). The fee benefits have been granted:

• age and service pensioners;
• persons with an I or II disability group;
• full-time students of state accredited higher education institutions.

For hunter's season card needs:

• hunter's certificate;
• a document attesting the payment of the State fee (if it has not been done at the SFS);
• document certifying the status of a pensioner or full-time student.
• The hunter's seasonal card may be received electronically and signed with a secure electronic signature. To do this:
• pay the national fee;
• electronically complete the request;
• a request, a copy of a payment order (and a document certifying the status of a pensioner or student, if applicable) shall be sent to forestry  e-address or e-mail address.

The State Forest Service shall check the validity of the hunter's certificate within 30 days and issue an electronically signed hunter's seasonal card by sending it to  e-address or the email address specified in the request. The hunter shall produce an electronic hunter's seasonal card in print and during hunting on demand.

If the hunter's season card is lost, then the hunter has two options:

• go to the nearest forestry sector and buy a new hunter's seasonal card, paying the national fee again;
• to go to the nearest general forest and to submit a submission with an explanation. VIRSMEZINIS will consider an application for the issuance of a duplicate hunter's seasonal card.

SFS recommends purchasing a hunter's season card electronically and storing it on its own computer. Then, in the event of a loss, the seasonal card is simply printed again.

How a foreigner can hunt in Latvia

A third-country national, if he or she wishes to hunt in Latvia, shall receive a permit for a third-country national to hunt in the territory of Latvia. In order to obtain this authorisation, a third-country national must be entitled to hunt in his or her country.

The authorisation shall require:

• a submission to the VMD master forestry, in which the foreigner's given name, surname and time period for how long he will hunt in Latvia shall be indicated;
• a copy of the document certifying that the third-country national is entitled to hunt in his or her country;
• paid for the State fee for the receipt of the authorisation.

Permits for a foreigner to hunt in the territory of Latvia shall be issued for one day, for a period of up to 10 days or for the whole hunting season. The amount of the national fee to be paid varies accordingly. A permit for a foreigner to hunt in the territory of Latvia shall be issued by the VMD within three working days after receipt of the submission.

Hunting contract

The hunting rights belong to the land owner or the legal possessor. The holder/possessor of that right may exercise his or her or her right to transfer it to another person by means of a written hunting agreement. The hunting contract must be registered with the State Forest Service (VMD). A hunting contract shall be concluded for a period of not less than one year.

A hunting contract may be concluded:

• in the unit of land to which the cadastre designation has been granted;
• in the part of the unit of land, if the contract specifies precisely the limits which are kartographically represented in the geodetic coordinate system of Latvia 1992.

The hunting contract shall include:

• the details of the persons entering into the contract (for a natural person the given name, surname, personal identity number and address of the declared place of residence; for a legal person the name, registration number and legal address);
• subject-matter of the contract - hunting rights in the particular land unit or part thereof in the hunting areas, indicating the cadastre designation of the unit of land and the name of the property;
• the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties (including the prevention of damage to wild game animals);
• the term of validity of the contract (not less than one year);
• the conditions under which the contract is terminated (terminated) or extended.

Hunting station

Limited game animals (elk, deer, doe, wild boar, wolves, lynxes, hunting and grouse) are allowed only to be hunted at a hunting station registered with the State Forest Service (SFS). This compartment must have a defined minimum area depending on the animal species to be hunted. The person to whom the hunting station is registered shall become the user of hunting rights.

In order to register a hunting station (or to make changes to the information relating to the registration of a new hunting contract), the owner of the hunting rights or the person who obtained the hunting rights by contract shall submit an application to the SFS.

The application shall be accompanied by documents attesting to the right of hunting:

• a copy of the document certifying legal possession (if the right to hunt is exercised by the legal possessor);
• a hunting contract or a certified copy thereof (if the hunting rights are exercised by the person to whom they were transferred by contract);
• a mandate or a copy thereof (if the hunting contract is entered into on the basis of an authorisation).
• When registering a hunting station or updating the registered information, the user of the hunting rights shall determine the responsible person responsible for coordinating the location of the hunters at the hunting station during the hunting. The information regarding that person (given name, surname, declared address of residence and contact number) shall be submitted to the WMD.

Minimum hunting areas:

• for elk: 2500 ha (forest land, shrubs and swamps);
• for red-deer bulls: 2000 ha (forest land, shrubs and swamps);
• for staid cows and calves: 1000 ha (forest land, shrubs and swamps);
• for wild boar: 1000 ha (including at least 200 ha of forest land);
• for doe, 200 ha (forest and farmland).

In order to be able to hunt limited game animals (elk, deer, doe and wild boar), it is necessary to obtain a hunting permit with a marker bearing a unique number. Hunting permits with markers shall be issued State Forest Service (SFS).

Hunting permits with markers shall be issued to a hunting rights user who has a registered hunting station. The State fee must be paid before receiving hunting permits and markers.

After the animal has been hunted, a marker must be reinforced in the carcase. The markers in the carcase shall be stowed in such a way that they can be seen and cannot be removed. Markers may be removed from the carcase only when completed information on hunting permits used.

Information on used hunting permits with markers shall be submitted to the WMD within one month of the hunt. If it doesn't, then new hunting permits with markers aren't issued.

Authorisation for the hunting of a wolf or lynx

The amount of allowable hunting of wolves and lynx for each hunting season shall be determined by State Forest Service.

The driver of the hunt shall fill in at the place of hunting of each wolf or lynx act on the hunting of a wolf or lynx and, within one working day, inform the WMD thereof. On the basis of this Act, upon payment of the State fee, the WMD shall issue a wolf or lynx hunting permit to the person who owns the game.

Hunting trophies and their removal from Latvia

A hunting trophy game animal horns together with the skull (upper jaw or frontal bone), tusks, skulls and skins. There are no special rules or charges for the removal of game trophies from Latvia, except for EU legislation and international conventions.

The applicant for authorisation must be able to prove the lawful acquisition of the hunting trophy. Upon request, the State Forest Service (VMD) may draw up a statement confirming the legal origin of the trophy, but such document is not mandatory.

In the case of a wolf or lynx trophy, to be submitted application to the Nature Conservation Board (DAP) to be able to obtain a trophy CITES certificate.

Authorisation for the holding of wild game animals in captivity

Game animals may be kept in captivity with State Forest Service a permit issued. Animals not hunted in captivity may be kept with Nature conservation authorities the authorisation and shall be informed of the SFS.

In order to receive a permit to hold captive game animals, the forest owner/legal possessor (or his or her authorised person) shall submit an application to the SFS master forest in the territory of which the animals are intended to be kept. If the application is submitted by a person other than the owner/possessor of the forest, the application shall be accompanied by documents certifying the right to act on land areas.

The application shall contain the following information:

• species of captive animals (species);
• the numbers of units of land in which animals are intended to be kept;
• information on growing areas (intensive/extensive). Where appropriate, the cartographic material of the zones shall be added;
• the number of captive specimens broken down by breeding zone;
• information on where captive animals will be obtained;
• information regarding technical regulations issued by the State Environmental Service.

The State Forest Service shall, within 10 working days after the registration of the application, issue a permit or inform the submitter regarding the time period for the provision of an answer.

If a dead game has been found, it should be reported immediately for the State Forest Service. If it is suspected that the animal has died from an infectious disease, it should be reported immediately also for food and veterinary services.

If the animal has been crashed in a road accident, the police shall be notified by telephone 110. The killed animal must not be misappropriated. It is desirable to provide information on wildlife collisions. State forest services (a police representative can also do this). The same should be done if the animal is still alive. If possible, the arrival of the responsible services should be expected, which will decide how to deal with the animal.

In the case of an animal crashed on the road threatening traffic safety, it may, as far as possible, be removed from the part of the vehicle, but it has not been specified as an obligation. The main thing in this situation is not to put yourself in danger. The killed animal must not be misappropriated. The collection of an animal shall be organised by the local government in the territory of which the animal has been

When a wild animal is struck down a national road, contact may be made with VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi” Traffic Information Centre by day-to-day telephone +371 80005555 or by email sic@lvceli.lv. Can also be reported State Fire and Rescue Service by phone112. If notified to one body, it will transmit this information to the responsible service.

Damage caused by game animals

If the damage caused by game animals has been identified, first contact with hunters who are entitled to hunt in these areas should be contacted and addressed by mutual negotiation. If it fails, the damage shall be submitted application the Local Government Hunt Coordination Commission.

The submission shall be submitted by the land owner (legal possessor), the land tenant (manager) or the owner (keeper) of the herd:

! If the application is submitted by the land tenant (manager), a copy of the lease (management) contract shall be attached to it.

The Commission for the Coordination of Hunt shall examine the damage referred to in the application in nature and the protective measures taken. The commission shall then assess the extent, extent and extent of the damage caused, as well as the measures to limit or eliminate the damage.

Cabinet Regulation No. 421 Annex 1 to the Hunting Regulations - Hunting review

Cabinet Regulation No. 421 Annex 2 to the Hunting Regulations - Registration journal for camped animals

Cabinet Regulation No. 421 Annex 3 to the Hunting Regulations - Information on hunting permits used

Cabinet Regulation No. 421 Annex 4 to the Hunting Regulations - Act of hunting a wolf/lynx

The State Forest Service (SFS)

The Nature Conservation Agency (NCA)

The State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)

The Latvian State Roads (LSR)

The Food and Veterinary Service (FVS)

Recognition of a foreign diploma

Personal security and public order

Adult education and lifelong learning