Should be there in November.

Basic questions:

1. Is it worth it to take the sport shooting course? If there is no jagdschein course available for a few months? Can I use it to own a hunting rifle and hunt outside of Germany?

2. What kind of vehicle is too big? We will be in the Kaiserslautern area. We are thinking of trading our Amerikanski truck for a Subaru Outback and shipping that. Then buying a Defender 110 or G-Wagon when we get there. Are these too big? I have only lived in Spain, Australia, Italy and the US. I don't fully understand how much parking room there is. We don't want to be the "Stand out Americans".

3. What months are snow tires required in Rhineland Phalz?

4. Any parts of town to stay away from for housing? Any little Dorfs that would be great places to live there?

You can buy car reasonably there plus local cars easier to fix?
Once you get established go and hunt Eastern Europe, lots of game, good trophies and pretty reasonable
Good luck there, you'll enjoy it

Congrats on your new assignment.

Ref: Vehicle size -- yes parking is a beitch for large vehicles. Most parking spots and garages are made purrfect for the size of a . . . moped. You can have a larger vehicle as a hunting outfit, and buy a smaller one for daily driver. There are big pickups here, but mostly from Americans. The locals will drive Nissan or Mitsubishi pickups. I drive US Spec Toyotas = they are serviced all over. Only certain garages will be able to work on US Specs of the Big three.

Ref: Sport shooting course. Save your energy and wait for the hunting course. You're going to need a Jagdschein anyway and a sportshooter course requires a lengthy period of "shooting" at the schuetzenhaus prior to purchase of any weapon. You'll need weapons registered on a WBK, and then again on the EU Waffenpass to take out of the Fatherland into EU countries.

Ref: Snow tires . . . believe it's Germany wide, from about 1 Oct thru 1 April is my best guess. I drive all season tires, all year, and don't change any tires, example: I have Bridgestone Dueler Revos on a 4Runner. Still good for 100mph on the Autobahn and gets me thru the woods just fine.

I'm not in K'town but been there enough times to know there are plenty of 'Dorfs to make yourself at home. If you have a sponsor from that area they should be able to give you 'on the ground' data.

Like Boarkiller said and I totally agree, head East -- I've had great hunting experiences in PL, CZ, SL, and HU!!

And . . . Waidmannsheil on your new assignment!!

Thanks Dom!

...the post from DOM is correct.
With a Defender or a G Wagon you have the top class car for a German hunter. Mostly they have the Japanese trucks with a small engine (for US thinking haha) or small SUVs like Toyota RAV4, Mercedes M or VW Tiguan. Subaru is represent too. You will find a parking lot with a 3500 RAM or a F150 Raptor too if you drive an additional lap.

Maybe you can get an alien hunting licence, but you need a hunting invitation from a host and other stuff. A shooting course is not required. It is particularly clear up with the hunting authority.

Snow tires are not strictly dictated. The traffic act says only, that you have use them on winterly road conditions . If you have no snow tires on a icy or snowy road you pay a fine to the police or if you have in the worst case an accident, the insurance will not pay.
The recommendation from DOM is the best way to have no trouble.

In that area I think aren't any bad neighbourhoods. Look for a place not so close to the interstate highway but close enough to your work. There are a lot of small towns with very relaxed wine festival.

Waidmannsheil

Vogtlaender

And in East, you can borrow guns on hunts so you don't go crazy waiting on bureaucracy to " allow you to own one"
Shoot me PM, I might be able to get you some contacts

I obtained an Auslander-Tages Jagdschein (foreigner daily hunting license) when I spent about a year in Germany. I didn't know the finer details other than my Dentist friend living in the Black Forest area had a Forestry official for that area as one of his patients so arranged for me to obtain a licence through the local office. I had to produce evidence of having a firearms licence from my own country and also evidence that I was permitted to hunt in my country i.e. had some land to legally hunt on. I did this by way of a NZ Forest Service permit to hunt public administered land in the whole of our South Island. I then had to purchase public liability insurance as do German residents with a Jagdscein.

The jagdschein had to be renewed for two week blocks at a time at the Forestry Office in the area where I had permission to hunt. I can't recall how or if I was required to provide evidence that I had permission to hunt in particular areas, I don't remember doing so but I did purchase more 'hunting time' on several occasions with the Jagdschein suitable stamped a bit like a visa on a passport..

I hunted in several areas with my German friends and their hunting colleagues who had hunting areas and also hunted alone on a few occasions. I stayed with the Mayor of a village right in the middle of the Black Forest area for a while and he had the whole village and surrounding area as his hunting block. I was sent out a couple of times to shoot a few roe deer and deliver them to a local hotel for various festivals coming up.

The Mayor used to take night classes for some of the local college students who were studying for their Jagdschein. It was a very involved process with lessons in biology, music and several other subjects, culminating with very difficult exams and practical shooting ( I had a look through their quite large study books and could see why it usually takes at least a year to complete the course. My German forester friend told me that generally only those with money and a good education tended to study for and be successful in obtaining a Jagdschein. He implied it was generally university orientated or qualified students who would succeed.

Me, the rough and ready kiwi from down under, made do with the foreigners licence, but having shot more game than most would shoot in their lifetime I did not disgrace myself when knocking over the little roe deer, just had to hold up a bit and make sure I didn't breach hunting etiquette by ploughing in, gutting the deer, throwing it over a shoulder and walking out. Bit more to hunting in Germany than that

Waidmansdank! Gents,

I see a lot of rifles that I think would work for me on egun.de for reasonable prices, the Bexburg Frankonia is only about 30-45 minutes away, and I have been to a couple of shops I don't remember the name of in Frankfurt. I am more excited about hunting than guns. I'll probably gift myself a Double rifle drilling before we leave, but I'll make do with 2nd handy Sako/Heym/Steyr/Voere/Merkel bolt gun until then.


Good to know on tires, I know K-town is not Tyrol or Bavaria for snow. I'll probably ship the vehicle with snow tires or off road tires on it. Wife wants a Subaru, she is from Southern California and hasn't really ever driven in snow. I figure she ought to be at least a little bit happy with her car choice.

I'll pick up a 10,000-20,000 Euro 2nd hand Defender or G-Wagon. There are tons of them on the German versions of autotrader. A guy in Frankfurt has about 20 on his lot, in that price range.

In terms of vehicles have a good look at the Audi A4 or A6 Allroad or VW Tiguan or Passat Alltrack. With decent winter tires they will go just about anywhere and yet cruise very comfortably at high speed down the Autobahn and given that on many stretches of the Autobahn there are no speed limits you do owe it to yourself to have something that make use of such sensible an approach to open roads.

I took our A4 Allroad across a few months ago- perfect vehicle. And for carrying boar and deer, all the locals have tow bar mounted racks that just clamp on very quickly.

I like the Audi a lot. I have been trying to find one to test drive. The Q-7 is awesome, but I don't need a vehicle that expensive.

Since you are going to K Town it sounds like you are US military affiliated. Yes/No. It will make a difference in a great many things if you are working on the German economy or the American military economy.

BWW:
I only got to Ktown a couple times. I was at the old Anderson Barracks about 60 mi E on the same hwy, I think 420. Back in '71-72. We sure didn't get much snow down there, but, it's quite a bit lower than Ktown too. Lot of heavy forest up that way. I only got to the Army heavy equipment repair post, never had a chance to look around the area at all.

Dom: Since you're there. I have a couple comments and questions. What the hell are all those cars at Anderson Barracks now? I was looking the area over a few months ago on G/Earth. I helped build that old dirt race track we had just west of the post. I also ran the project building that golf course just west of the new autobahn from BK headed south across 420 area. I've not been back since Jan '73 when I left for home. Just wondering if the golf course is still there, and would like to see pictures if you guys get there. I cleared 200 acres of iron wood trees with a dozer. Others did the road work and some of the dirt work. Quite a fun project mostly in the fall and winter. All that activity we didn't see any game.

Lot's of roe deer in the river bottoms along the Rhein, by Oppenheim, & Neirstein. Great wine country thru that area. Post was just a mile W of Dexheim, 2mi W of O,N. Can't think of the village just across the field to the South.

Thanks, hope you have a great time while there, I sure did.

George

We stopped there regularly on the way home from the sandbox from 1993-2010. I have probably been to Ramstein 20 or more times.

The last time, I had a wonderful little 1 day vacation that was equal to what people saw in a month.

It was September, and the local Dorf had Oktoberfest going on, I made it to Bexburg Frankonia, and petted their Krieghoffs and Heyms, and drank and ate like a king. I am still wearing the Jack Wolfskin polar fleece jacket I bought there, and everytime I see of it I think of that day.

.

I only just saw your post. Congrats on the upcoming move.

My 2 cents based on my wife and I both having lived and hunted extensively in Germany and we still do. Both of us hold German hunting permits ( Jagdscheine ) and firearms in Germany.

There used to be a special course / program for military to obtain a Jagdschein - in English and short test version ( certainly was the case to 2009 ) - maybe you can find out when you arrive. Otherwise think about one of the compact 2 week courses that are around. Quick way of getting a hunting license.

As regards cars a Subaru is a great option and most dealers offer a "Jaeger Angebot", discounted price, tow bar, green metalic, dog grid etc. Ideal town and country car. Defenders are just too slow and not comfortable for driving long distance. I know, we have two and I love them in Africa but would not want one in Europe where you can and will drive at 150 - 160 kms on the Autobahn. A Landy cannot do that. Maybe a Discovery as an alternative to a Subaru. Snow is never really an issue the Germans grit salt and plough the roads the night before it snows ! Not kidding its a fact.

As regards rifles when you have a Jagdschein you can buy as many rifles and shotguns as you want. But only 2 pistols or handguns - need pre approval before purchase from your police firearms officer.

You will be spoilt for choice on Drillings and the likes! As most hunting is high seats at dawn dusk and in the night you will likely be looking at a 50 scope! 6 and 7 mm calibers are ideal for everything that most of Europe can offer you. IMO 9 mm are maybe a bit OTT for roe and small stuff but different strokes etc. We do all our European hunting with a .243, a 30-06 and a 7x65.

Clay clubs are also great fun and good places to meet other hunters. And if you get a HPR dog there are always chances of invites to shoots to work the dog.

Once you have a German Schein you can pretty much hunt all over Germany Austria Croatia and elsewhere. Long list of countries to hunt and places to go and game to hunt - roe, red, fallow, sika, chamois, badger, fox, boar, Murmel, the whole range of fur and feather and even seagulls when in season ( thanks to Reichsmarshal Goering who had them put on the game list!)

Enjoy it. Wish you and family a good move and all the best in Germany !

Charlie

.

Thanks Charlie,

That is our plan. Registration for the military jagdschein course in my area opens on the 1st of November. I can't wait to confirm it.

Kaiserslautern is in the "Pfälzer Wald" . one of the greatest forests in Germany. Rheinland-Pfalz is region with very different areas, mountains up to 800m (Erbeskopf, former US-Radiostation) and sometimes hard winters, but there are classic vine-areas in the Rhine-and Mosel-valley with quite warm winters.
But Rheinland-Pfalz has the oldest towns in Germany, which are more than 2000 years old (compare it with the USA ): Trier in the Mosel-valley and Mainz in the Rhine-valley with other very old towns!

quote:

the oldest towns in Germany, which are more than 2000 years old (compare it with the USA ): Trier in the Mosel-valley and Mainz in the Rhine-valley with other very old towns!

I LIVED NEAR ZUNI --in Arizona-- it's older than this history-- point is we have some here quite old

Zuni Pueblo (Zuni: Shiwinna, also Zuñi Pueblo and Pueblo de Zuñi) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,302 as of the 2010 Census.[1] It is inhabited largely by members of the Zuni people.
The first contact with Europeans occurred in 1539 in the ancient village of Hawikku when Esteban, an Arab/Berber of Moroccan origin, entered Zuni territory seeking the fabled "Seven Cities of Cibola

Oraibi was founded sometime before the year 1100 CE, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements within the United States.[1][2] Archeologists speculate that a series of severe droughts in the late 13th century forced the Hopi to abandon several smaller villages in the region and consolidate within a few population centers. As Oraibi was one of these surviving settlements its population grew considerably, and became populous and the most influential of the Hopi settlements. By 1890 the village was estimated to have a population of 905, almost half of the 1,824 estimated to be living in all of the Hopi settlements at the time.[3]
Oraibi remained unknown to European explorers until about 1540 when Spanish explorer Don Pedro de Tovar (who was part of the Coronado expedition) encountered the Hopi while searching for the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. Contact with the Europeans remained scant until 1629 when the San Francisco mission was established in the village.[4] In 1680 the Pueblo Revolt resulted in decreased Spanish influence in the area and the cessation of the mission.[5] Subsequent attempts to reestablish the missions in Hopi villages were met with repeated failures. The former mission is still visible today as a ruin

it would be good for you continentals to hop a flight over and see some towns that go back to 700 bc -- when you got home you would be more global-- a bit less smug -- a good history / geography lesson ---will do that for you-- you know

any way i did it-- i compared for you


Trier Gallia Belgica Germany 30 BC[citation needed] Oldest city in Germany.

I used to live in Syracusa, Italy. founded in 734 BC. People have lived there for 2700 years.

I'd wager that more Germans come to the American west on vacation than Americans visit Germany.

I currently live within 100 miles of Death Valley, we have Germans in town every day.

my other house and my machinery yard is in lonepine bww

we see a german here in town from time to time as well

some of em even spend a little money now and then

I'd wager that more Germans come to the American west on vacation than Americans visit German

not if you go back about 75 years add it all up to now

My Grandfather used to hum a few bars of "Over there, over there..." from time to time. He said he had visited Germany once many years ago.

My Father told me stories of his visit to Germany, iirc, he went with one of those tour groups. The 82nd...

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
I used to live in Syracusa, Italy. founded in 734 BC. People have lived there for 2700 years.

I'd wager that more Germans come to the American west on vacation than Americans visit Germany.

I currently live within 100 miles of Death Valley, we have Germans in town every day.

Perhaps you do not understand: Trier is the oldest town in Germany, but it was founded more than 2000 years agoe by the Romansand not founded by Germanics (Germany does not existed at that time) you can visit the "Porta Nigra" the black door, builded by Romans, the "Kaiser-Thermen" a Roman bath-room with underfloor chauffage!

M-F,

The claim was that Europeans think that America is young in history.

The aboriginal people of the Americas have been here over 10,000 years. Some of them had fairly advanced civilizations. Some of them did not.

I have lived on five continents. The world is old, and parts of it have been settled by people multiple times.

We have tons of German tourst here in the Mojave Desert to visit Mammoth, Yosemitie and Death Valley.

That is all I meant, Euros travel more than Americans do.

I think it's overall about the same
Just a matter of perception

Maybe,

When I lived in Syracusa I'd meet 5 or 10 Americans on vacation a year.

In the Mojave Desert, I meet 5 or 10 Euros a week. If I had a service job I think it would be a lot more.

Either Death Valley is a bigger draw to Euros than the Greek and Roman ruins of Syracusa Italy are to Americans, or we just have a lot of local Euro traffic.

I never have been in the USA, but I was for two times in Canada(Manitoba an BC).
My father spend a Special Kind of Holidays in the USA from 1944-1946 in Alabama and Northern Carolina!

When I was a young boy (Long time agoe), my best friend was the son of a GI near Bitburg. Sorry I lost contact to him and I would be very happy if somebody can help to find him again - I hope he is still living!