The team at Lasarotta are aware of the very high standards of safety in the UK and therefore shooting in Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and the surrounding countries needs to meet and exceed those standards. We would like to reassure our potential visitors that shooting regulations are strict and well implemented. Our attention to detail is very strong in this area. Away from the shooting field Croatia won a title of the safest tourist destination in the World and in 2008 was voted as the second most beautiful country in the World.

We take people only to places where we know that even with the most difficult clients a hunting ground is able to maintain high levels of safety.  Over the last 30 years not a single injury has been registered in our estates in Serbia and Croatia (65 estates and 3.000,000 ha of shooting area). We want to keep this good reputation and expect our clients to maintain the highest standards of safety.

It is important to follow the instructions that guides give and to remember the basic rules during a walked up or a driven day. If you have any question we will be delighted to assist. It is always a good practice to read the safety rules given to hunters after a morning ceremony. These safety rules explain the local shooting practices and you will have detailed drawing of a hunting area planed for a particular day. Please obey the safety rules if you do not wish to be disqualified from shooting. The shoot manager has the last word!

You must be aware of the other Guns’ positions and backdrop before shooting. You will be reminded of the position of adjacent Guns before shooting. It is important that during walked-up quail days (quail over pointers) Guns always keep in a straight line and never take shots when unsure of the location of other Guns. Swinging the gun through the line is a dangerous and forbidden activity. If a bird gets up in front of you and then turns and flies over or through the line, then you should raise your gun (so that it is off your shoulder), turn around and then remount the gun to fire safely behind. When you are carrying your gun in the line, point it downwards and forwards all the time.

On driven boar days you will be introduced to a new set of rules and local traditions but it is important to remember the basic safety rules. At the beginning of a driven boar drive you must locate the guns on your left and right, understand borders, your shooting area and safety angles. In some shoots you will shoot from the ground and it is not safe to move even one meter from your peg backward or to shoot game while it is approaching toward you. In some places where driven boar is organised from 1.5 m high wooden box hides, you might be allowed to shoot game 30 meters toward beaters (Croatia Only). In this case the guide will accompany you on the peg at all times, and you must stop shooting when warned of exceeding your safety angles.

Etiquette

Game that rises or runs away from you should not be shot at a too close range. It is also very unethical to risk wounding by shooting at very high birds that are out range. Do not take a second shot at a wounded bird, which is on the ground! There is a serious risk that you may shoot a dog which is picking it up.
Do not take shots at running deer or roe deer on driven boar days. Do not shoot any big game quarry out of range. Avoid the risk of wounding animals as much as it is possible. Charges for wounded game sometimes can be higher than for its estimated trophy value. We expect you to behave as true sportsmen and have respect for the quarry.

Annual Quotas

Hunting activities in the region of Europe are strictly regulated by government wildlife agencies that allow every hunting estate annual quotas for particular species. If a shoot exceeds the allowed quota of a particular quarry, shooting is stopped before the end of the season. Animals are regularly observed and counted, and if there is an outbreak of animal disease hunting can be delayed until the following season.

Licences & Insurance

To be able to hunt in Croatia and the surrounding countries you must be able to provide valid national (UK/EU) firearm licence and valid third party hunting insurance (such as BASC membership or Countryside Alliance membership).  This insurance must specify the type of cover, type of shooting and areas where you are covered. The insurance must cover personal accident, public and third party liability and any eventualities connected with his/her hunting trip up to £5,000,000. This cover can be arranged on request for people from the UK. For all other groups we can suggest some insurance companies but we do not take responsibility to organise this. All our foreign hunters are provided with our national hunting association’s third party insurance that provides cover for the duration of the temporary hunting licence. If clients are unhappy with our cover we would prefer to see personally arranged insurance cover. A booking cannot be accepted without the necessary insurance cover.

Firearms Regulations

If you would like to bring your own gun we will arrange all the formalities related to the customs procedures to bring your gun into the country. Each gun will incur a customs tax in cash on each weapon of around 15 euros or less (depending on country). You should note that automatic and semi-automatic guns must be capable of firing no more than three shots. We will provide you with invitation letter which will contain all the data about the weapons you are bringing with you. You must agree not to enclose any documents, which are or may be, in whole or in part: false, unlawful, criminal or fraudulent.

Hiring a Gun Locally

We are able to offer you an option of hiring quality shotguns and rifles locally. All firearms are liable to be checked for accuracy before you are allowed to use them in shooting areas.

Ammunition Sizes

The calibre of the gun and the type of ammunition you use must comply with the Law on Hunting and hunting custom and ethics. The minimum calibre for deer and wild boar is 7mm, and the minimum bullet weight is 160 grains. For other big game, the minimum calibre is 6mm, and bullet weight 100 grains. For all details regarding ammunition sizes please see PDF form Ammunition.