Arms sales and purchases, hunting and fishing licenses are regulatory or legal mechanisms to control the hunting of animals or fish. They may be regulated informally by unwritten laws, self-restraint, a moral code, or by governmental laws.

The purposes for requiring hunting licenses include the protection of natural treasures,and raising tax revenue (often, but not always, to dedicated funds). Other reasons are public safety (especially of children, both as hunters and bystanders), regulation and conservation of wild animals, revenue for the sovereign state, and containing the transmission of animal-borne diseases (such as Lyme disease and rabies).

The safety issues are especially highlighted in urban areas and shopping districts. For example, after in an incident in November 2012 whereby a man allegedly shot at a deer in a Walmart parking lot in Pennsylvania, he was charged with "reckless endangerment, ... hunting without a license, shooting on or across highways and unlawful killing or taking of big game."

Different Countries

AUSTRALIA

All firearm owners and users in Australia require a firearm's licence, but normally do not require a licence to hunt. Most target species are feral or introduced species, and almost all native animals are protected. Landowners may obtain a "Destruction Permit" to kill or remove native species when their numbers impact agriculture. Hunting in New South Wales national parks requires a R-licence issued by the Game Council, but (as of mid-2013) this situation has been suspended pending review. Professional hunters are issued what is sometimes referred to as a D-licence, but rather than being a hunting licence this is a category of firearms that includes semi-automatics and large capacity magazines.

CANADA

Hunting regulation and licensing falls under both provincial/territorial and federal jurisdiction. The federal government is responsible for protecting migratory birds and nationally significant wildlife habitat, the regulation for endangered species and the international wildlife issues and treaties (i.e. CITES) for Canada. For example, Migratory Game Bird Hunting licence is issued by the Canadian Wildlife Service, an agency of Environment Canada. All other matters fall under the provincial/territorial jurisdiction.

The use of firearms in hunting is also separated into provincial/territorial and federal jurisdiction. Whereas the Canadian Firearms Program will determine who is eligible for a Possession and Acquisition Licence and issuance of firearm registration certificates, it is the provincial/territorial government's responsibility to regulate when and how the firearms can be used in hunting animals.

In Québec hunter education and licensing is managed by the Fédération Québécoise de la Faune. Sécurité Nature, a program managed by the FQF, offers a variety of hunting education courses which allow residents to hunt legally after obtaining their licence and a permit at designated outlets (most hunting & fishing stores, Canadian Tires, etc.) for a fee.

EUROPE

Most if all countries in Europe require licenses.

German hunting license (2004)

A German hunting license is a certificate that grants its holder the exercise of hunting within legal ordinances. It is also the precondition to own hunting arms and ammunition (unlimited number of rifles/shotguns and up to two handguns). The actual right to exercise hunting in a specific area is entitled to the respective landowners (if they own an area of more than 0.75 square kilometres (190 acres), otherwise all landowners of a municipality are integrated into an association) who may use their right for themselves or lease it. Depending on size and value of a hunting area a typical leasing rate may vary from about US$10–100 per acre per year. Additionally the lesse has to pay the landowner any damage by deers, wild hogs etc. The right to hunt is connected to the duty to care for all kind of animals listed by the hunting laws. For several species such as deers plans have to be developed by hunters and authorities, how many animals of a specified class and age may (or have to) be killed within a certain period of time. The purpose of the hunting license is to ensure that only well trained persons may exercise hunting. Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Successful completion of a hunting exam,
Certificate of a liability insurance for hunters,
Personal trustworthiness (§ 5 German Weapons Act),
Applicants must be at least 16 years for a Youth Hunting License, otherwise 18 years,
Flawless Criminal record.
The hunting exam is a test of expertise with a high failure rate. To pass it, each applicant has to participate in a comprehensive, difficult instruction course which consists largely of the areas shooting (shotgun and rifle), theory (esp. weaponry, local wildlife and habitat) and practice.

In practice the German system of examination for deer hunters (stalkers) is very much in line with the English DMQ level DSC2. Over the last ten years or so European countries in general have made efforts to harmonise the previously fragmented rules and regulations with parallels being taken from the more difficult UK system.

INDIA

Our Agents and Affiliates in India are presently contacting the local authorities

UNITED STATES

Firearm legal topics of the
United States of America Applicable Laws
National Rifle Association (10mm Members)
Amendment II
Assault weapon
Assault weapons legislation
Bump stocks
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
Campus carry in the U.S.
Concealed carry in the U.S.
Connecticut Children's Safety Act
Constitutional carry
Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban
Federal Assault Weapons Ban
Federal Firearms Act of 1938
Federal Firearms License
Firearm case law
Firearm Owners Protection Act
Gun Control Act of 1968
Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA)
Gun law in the U.S.
Gun laws in the U.S. by state
Gun politics in the U.S.
High-capacity magazine ban
History of concealed carry in the U.S.
International treaties for arms control
National Instant Criminal
Background Check System (NICS)
National Firearms Act (NFA)
NY SAFE Act
Open carry in the U.S.
Right to keep and bear arms in the U.S.
Second Amendment sanctuary
Sullivan Act (New York)
Suppressor
Tiahrt Amendment
Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act

In the United States, regulation of hunting is primarily performed by state law; additional regulations are imposed through Federal environmental law regarding migratory birds (such as ducks and geese) and endangered species.

Like many licenses, a hunting license is considered a privilege granted by the government, rather than a constitutional right under the Second Amendment.

As a general rule, unprotected pest species are not subject to a hunting license. Vermin may be hunted without a license, or may even be the subject of a bounty paid to the hunter.

A Federal law, the Airborne Hunting Act (AHA), was passed in 1971 with the goal of eliminating aerial hunting, that is, shooting wildlife from planes or helicopters.

AFRICA

We are presently contacting all governments in Africa to obtain required Safari and Hunting Licenses from the local authorities.

ASIA

Our Agents and Affiliates in Asia are presently contacting the local authorities