Hunting in Montenegro 2026: new hunting seasons from 24 September, the hunting exam, the hunting permit and card, hunting for foreigners and fines

In Montenegro a new Rulebook on hunting seasons for game has applied since 24 September 2026, replacing the 2009 rules. Game may be hunted only in a hunting ground, only in season and only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, except for commercial hunting. A hunter in the hunting ground must carry a hunting permit and hunting card issued by the hunting ground holder, a firearms licence and ID, and a local hunter also needs a passed hunting exam and membership of a hunting organisation. Hunting for foreigners is organised by the hunting ground holder with Ministry consent and a professional escort. Hunting without a permit is fined 200 to 800 euros, and the hunting equipment is confiscated.

This guide explains the new hunting seasons, hunting days, what a hunter needs, how foreigners hunt, what is forbidden and what the fines are.

When does the hunting season start?

• Brown bear and wildcat are hunted only under the management plans for that year.
• Game for which no hunting season has been set is protected by a hunting ban.
• Game farms have separate seasons; for example, wild boar males, piglets and young boar can be hunted all year.

Which days are hunting days?

• During the season hunting is allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and holidays.
• For commercial hunting, the hunting ground holder may also set other days of the week.
• Commercial hunting is organised hunting tourism for foreign and local hunters, who pay organisation fees, culling and services under the price list of the Hunting Association of Montenegro.
• The Ministry may shorten the season or hunting days if the number of a species in a hunting ground falls below natural capacity.

What does a hunter need?

• Game may be hunted only in hunting grounds, with a hunting permit and hunting card issued by the hunting ground holder.
• The holder issues a permit to a local hunter only if they have passed the hunting exam, hold approval to carry a hunting weapon and are a member of a hunting organisation.
• The hunting exam commission decides on an application within eight days of the Hunting Association submitting the documents.
• At the request of a game warden, at the entrance to the hunting ground or within 50 metres of its boundary, a hunter must show the hunting permit, hunting card, firearms licence and ID.
• A hunting dog must have documents on breed and identity, and training dogs in the hunting ground is forbidden from 1 March to 30 June.

How do foreigners hunt?

• A foreigner does not need the Montenegrin hunting exam or membership of a hunting organisation to obtain a hunting permit.
• Hunting for a foreigner is organised by the hunting ground holder with Ministry consent and a professional escort; a holder that organises a hunt without these faces a fine of 2,500 to 15,000 euros.
• Taking hunted or mounted game and trophies out of the country requires Ministry approval.
• Game and its parts may be transported outside the hunting ground only with a certificate of origin.

What is forbidden?

• Hunting less than 200 metres from settlements or houses, 100 metres from roads, railways, industrial sites and the state border, and 300 metres from airports and military sites.
• Semi-automatic shotguns or rifles holding more than two rounds, military and target weapons, bows and arrows, crossbows, night sights and artificial light sources.
• Hunting with dogs at night, hunting when snow in the forest exceeds 30 cm or freezes, and hunting during late pregnancy or while females are leading their young.
• Big game, except wild boar, may not be hunted with a shotgun without slugs, with dogs or in group drives.

What are the fines?

• Hunting without a hunting permit or card, with forbidden weapons or means, or in forbidden conditions is fined 200 to 800 euros.
• Items used in the offence, including weapons and hunting equipment, are confiscated in addition to the fine.
• Anyone who does not show their documents at a game warden's request pays the same fine.

Firearms licences are covered in our guide to the firearms licence, and fishing in our guide to the fishing licence. Rules for dogs are covered in our guide to dogs in Montenegro, and arriving with a dog from abroad in our guide to travelling with a dog or cat.

Frequently asked questions

When does wild boar hunting start in Montenegro? The wild boar season runs from 1 October to 31 January, and hunting is allowed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Which days are hunting days in Montenegro? Hunting days are Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and holidays, and for commercial hunting the hunting ground holder may set other days.

What do you need to hunt in Montenegro? You need a hunting permit and hunting card from the hunting ground holder, a firearms licence and ID, and a local hunter also needs a passed hunting exam and membership of a hunting organisation.

Can foreigners hunt in Montenegro? Yes, hunting for foreigners is organised by the hunting ground holder with Ministry consent and a professional escort, without the Montenegrin hunting exam.

What is the fine for hunting without a permit? Hunting without a hunting permit or card is fined 200 to 800 euros, and the hunting equipment is confiscated.

Since when do the new hunting seasons apply? The Rulebook on hunting seasons for game was published on 16 September 2026 and has applied since 24 September 2026.

Sources

Hunting seasons and hunting days are set by the Rulebook on hunting seasons for game (Official Gazette 135/2026), and hunting only in hunting grounds, permits, hunting by foreigners, prohibitions and fines by the Law amending the Law on Game and Hunting (Official Gazette 51/2025, Articles 35, 56, 66, 84 and 86). The deadline for a decision on the hunting exam is set by an amendment to the Rulebook on the hunting exam (Official Gazette 18/2025). The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; check hunting conditions with the hunting ground holder.