Just got back from Romania. Had a decent hunt with George of Romania Hunting Outfitters. I took a nice Fallow and a nice Roe Buck without much work at all. Both definitely free range. I had a couple of days to fill so George organized a pheasant hunt which I also enjoyed, then we toured Brahm Castle and Keng Fredericks's summer residence. Really enjoyed both castles but King Frederick's if off the chart opulent, maybe even decadent. He alsos took me to the National Hunting Museum.
Here's why I call it a decent trip. I avoid hunting in countries that do not allow me to hunt with my rifle. George assured me it would be no problem in Romania and we started with the paperwork several months out but when I arrived in Bucharest, the Border Police told me I did not have a "special paper" that is issued by the Border Police. They would hold my rifle at the airport until I checked in for my outgoing flight.
George followed up the next day and was finally told that "they don't have to give a reason". Since the "special paper" is issued by the Border Police, and the Border Police did not issue it, I am wondering if the "special paper" has a $20 or $50 number on it. Anyway, I'm done with Romania.

There seems to be more and more countries that make bringing guns for hunting more and more difficult
I just rent guns
If you any decent shot, you will have no problem so quit complaining and go hunting
Hunting is experience, not “ Your gun only “

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There seems to be more and more countries that make bringing guns for hunting more and more difficult

Your perspective is as someone from the U.S. going to hunt overseas. Just try the opposite: Foreign hunters find it almost impossible to bring their own rifle/shotgun into the U.S. The paperwork is both daunting and takes a very long time. Fortunately for my overseas friends (have had four of them hunt with me in the last few years) I can equip them with a variety of quality rifles or shotguns to hunt with. That's not typically true when going to other countries which may restrict the number of firearms a person possesses (your host) or otherwise makes it difficult for a visiting hunter to access the type and quality of hunting gun he desires.

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Originally posted by Stonecreek:

Your perspective is as someone from the U.S. going to hunt overseas. Just try the opposite: Foreign hunters find it almost impossible to bring their own rifle/shotgun into the U.S. The paperwork is both daunting and takes a very long time. Fortunately for my overseas friends (have had four of them hunt with me in the last few years) I can equip them with a variety of quality rifles or shotguns to hunt with. That's not typically true when going to other countries which may restrict the number of firearms a person possesses (your host) or otherwise makes it difficult for a visiting hunter to access the type and quality of hunting gun he desires.

I have hunted in the USA four, maybe five times and brought my own rifle on each occasion. I found submitting the actual application ( paperwork ) is pretty straightforward and the response time reasonable, typically being 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes sooner. A trickier part of submitting the application is that a Hunting License copy must be sent with it but I've managed to do that each time. Otherwise all the application asks for are pretty typical details, which is no biggie. Then, one endures the airlines procedures to check in firearm/s for the flights and upon landing in the USA ( San Francisco and Houston in my case ) the Firearms luggage is declared at Passport control and I've always had very helpful Customs officers escort me to claim the Firearm in baggage then walk me to the Customs inspection area. If the Firearm details match with the computer record it's only been several minutes before you're sent on your way.
I don't know if being a New Zealand citizen smoothes this entry process in any way but the whole business is far from impossible. In fact I would rate the system I have experienced as professional and well organised. I wouldn't hesitate to bring my own firearm on any future hunt in the USA and I hope there are more to enjoy.
Comparatively, after the one hunt, in Cameroon, I did using a camp rifle which was far less than ideal I will always try to travel and hunt strictly with my own rifle.

i spend hours, days, weeks, months getting everything "perfect" on my hunting rifles. One of these days I'm going to be successful. In the meantime, I avoid countries that don't allow me to hunt with my rifle.

You will be done with Romania more when youre throphy’s will not be shipped to youre place.
George has outstanding reputation on not sending throphy’s, but first demanding more money for shipping.
Becarefull.

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Originally posted by Pancho:
Here's why I call it a decent trip. I avoid hunting in countries that do not allow me to hunt with my rifle. George assured me it would be no problem in Romania and we started with the paperwork several months out but when I arrived in Bucharest, the Border Police told me I did not have a "special paper" that is issued by the Border Police. They would hold my rifle at the airport until I checked in for my outgoing flight.
George followed up the next day and was finally told that "they don't have to give a reason". Since the "special paper" is issued by the Border Police, and the Border Police did not issue it, I am wondering if the "special paper" has a $20 or $50 number on it. Anyway, I'm done with Romania.

I travel several times per year into Romania with Rifles. Never had an Issue so have not my Friends when traveling by Plane or Car into this Non Schengen Country.
When your Outfitter arrange Proper Rifle Import Permits and a Invitation there should be Zero Problems !
Years ago the Border Police where checking at Bukarest Airport every single Rifle and where counting Amo on Stopover on arrival and departure even so the Guns where checked to Final Airports. This was a Real pain in the A...

From what dutchtrapper says, George maybe a bit shady in his dealings. Did he charge you for using his rifles, if he did the Border Police "special paper" might just be quite convenient as a way for him to take more cash off clients????
All sounds a bit suspicious.

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I have hunted in the USA four, maybe five times and brought my own rifle on each occasion. I found submitting the actual application ( paperwork ) is pretty straightforward and the response time reasonable, typically being 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes sooner. A trickier part of submitting the application is that a Hunting License copy must be sent with it but I've managed to do that each time.

Glad you've had good experiences with bringing your rifles to the U.S. The "copy of hunting license" requirement can be a problem since some jurisdictions only issue hunting licenses in person, making it impossible to get a copy of the license before you arrive. There are work-arounds, but the process is more difficult than it should be. For a country swimming in guns it seems silly to make it difficult for an out-of-country hunter to bring his rifle or shotgun with him.

The US is not very user friendly for bringing guns here.

I remember when I came back from Australia the customs guy had this poor aussie girl in tears and missing her connection to camp perry over a damn .22 rimfire target rifle.

He was just being a dick.

Getting the supervisor over solved it… but too late for her to make the flight.

The good thing you can say about US CBP is I have NEVER heard of them trying to get a bribe. Get worked up about bureaucratic BS, yes. Overt corruption, not commonly.

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Originally posted by Stonecreek:

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I have hunted in the USA four, maybe five times and brought my own rifle on each occasion. I found submitting the actual application ( paperwork ) is pretty straightforward and the response time reasonable, typically being 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes sooner. A trickier part of submitting the application is that a Hunting License copy must be sent with it but I've managed to do that each time.

Glad you've had good experiences with bringing your rifles to the U.S. The "copy of hunting license" requirement can be a problem since some jurisdictions only issue hunting licenses in person, making it impossible to get a copy of the license before you arrive. There are work-arounds, but the process is more difficult than it should be. For a country swimming in guns it seems silly to make it difficult for an out-of-country hunter to bring his rifle or shotgun with him.

A friend of mine from Canada (originally an Ozzie) just left my CO place after a successful deer hunt. He said he was stunned at how easy it was to bring guns over the border, but then again, he drove. He said US Customs didn't even look at his guns.