I would encourage any American Service Member stationed in Germany to get their jagdschein through the USAEUR/USAFE programs and experience the hunting. Hopefully they still exist. I got mine a few months after arriving in 1980 and during two tours (early '80s and early 90s) had some of the most fantastic hunting experiences of my life.

I am glad to hear Franconia is still alive and well. In the early '80s they put out a catalog to rival Basspro/Redhead or Cabelas. Inquiries for a catalog from my wife's family and friends had turned up nothing and I feared they no longer existed.

Altjaeger, give Frankonia a call or an e-mail (or fill in form below) and order yourself a catalog, they'll send you one - just for old times sake

Order Frankonia Catalog page

- mike

Thanks for the source!!!

Buell 98,

Kettner seems to be no more, in Germany at least; I did see one was still open in Salzberg, Austria. If you get down towards Ramstein, we have a fairly new Frankonia that opened in the former Kettner's store in Bexbach. But I'll tell you that the manager at the Kaiserslautern Rod and Gun Club told me about a week ago that Frankonia sent them a fax saying they would not sell to American's/Canadians anymore; said they elected not to get the insurance coverage. Haven't tried to buy anything from them since I've heard about this...

I've been here about 19 months. It took about a year to get my Jagdschein and Waffenbesitzkarte. Have been on a few hunts and it is a joy to see the differences in how the Germans view/practice hunting as opposed to us Americans.

As Herr Hauke was starting to say, if you don't have a Jagdschein or Waffenbesitzkarte, you're out of luck buying weapons in Germany from Germans. If you're serious, try one of the Rod and Gun clubs; Heidelberg/Kaiserslautern/Baumholder/Kitzingen are all within a couple of hours of you (plus you'll save on VAT). Here's the link to the Rod and Gun Clubs in Germany:

http://www.per.hqusareur.army.mil/services/mwrd/POF/club.htm

They will allow you to buy a weapon and store it there (you can't possess the weapon), and you can mail it home with an approved ATF Form 6--note this is for long weapons only; no pistols (you can't mail pistols/revolvers).

Herr Wegehaupt,

Have heard of Zehner's before, but haven't visited. You recommend them?

Steve

Dear Steve,
yes i can recommend Zehner. Mr Zehner is a very nice man. I am from Kassel ( 200 km north of Frankfurt) but drive the way to him. He has a good looking shop and a big shooting range. He always have some good used guns. I get a Heym express in .416 Rigby with scope for a very good price. I always like to vistit his shop.