Hunting in Russia
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Why Russia
Variety and abundance of game
Russia’s forests, rivers, and towering mountains teem with an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife
Affordability
Because of recent economic changes and today’s currency exchange rates, hunts in Russia are a great value for the international hunter
Rich historical legacy and ancient hunting traditions
Russia’s hunting traditions go back to ancient times, and it forms an important theme in the literature of great Russian writers. Russian hunters are proud of the cultural legacy of the hunt, which persists to this day
Russia on map
About hunting in Russia
Russia, the largest country in the world in terms of land area, spans eleven time zones and two continents, covering the major part of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It contains the largest freshwater lake in the world, the Baikal, and Europe's tallest peak, Mount Elbrus. A variety of climate zones and topography, ranging from broad plains and low hills west of the Urals to vast areas of coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia to the upland and mountain habitat along the southern border regions, means hunters have a tremendous variety of game and hunting experiences to choose from. Hunting in Russia is as varied as the terrain, ranging from lodge-based deer and upland bird hunts, to bear hunts using snowmobiles, to rugged hike-in snow sheep hunts in the high mountains. Russia has five varieties of snow sheep: Kamchatka, Koryak, Okhotsk, Kolyma, and Yakutia; five varieties of brown bears: East Siberian, Amur, Siberian, European, and Caucasian; and three varieties of moose: Kamchatka, Yakutia, and European. The country also offers excellent hunting for Siberian roebuck, maral stag, wolf, lynx, capercaillie, blackcock, and woodcock. Inexpensive hunts for species as diverse as capercaillie and bears abound, and prices are still comparatively low even for combined hunts in Kamchatka and the Far East for snow sheep and moose.
Brown Bear - Bush TV
The brown bear is the largest land predator on Earth and are quite often a little ill-tempered. These European brown bears are no exception to that. Check out this trail camera footage from one of BookYourHunt's outfitters in Russia!
What you need to know
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1. Planning your trip
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2. Upon arrival
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3. Hunting
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4. After the hunt
Planning your trip
Visas
A visa is required to visit Russia for holders of US and EU passports. Because the documentation requirements are extensive (they may include a letter of invitation from your outfitter and confirmation of hotel reservations, as well as personal information), allow plenty of time—at least a month—before your trip to take care of this process. See http://www.russianembassy.org/page/consular-issues for more information.
Importing Firearms
Foreign hunters can bring hunting rifles into the country for the duration of a planned hunt, as specified in their outfitter’s invitation. The procedure for receiving an import permit generally takes at least a month, so it’s important to send the necessary documents to your outfitter well in advance.
It’s extremely important that the model and serial number of the rifle, as well as the amount of ammo you bring (no more than 100 rounds allowed), match exactly the information you provided on the permit. Note that archery equipment and silencers are not allowed for hunting in Russia. You must carry your firearms permit on your person while you are in Russia.
Upon arrival
Plan in advance
For most Russian hunting trips, you will make your initial arrival in Moscow. If you are not transferring immediately to a domestic flight, make arrangements in advance for your outfitter or a representative to meet you at the airport and take you to a hotel. Be sure to exchange some currency in the airport or at a Moscow bank so you are carrying cash in rubles, as many rural areas do not accept credit cards. Because most hunts require traveling long distances from Moscow, it’s important to arrange your travel itinerary well in advance of your hunt. Your outfitter can help you with this process; be sure to discuss it with him in detail well before your arrival.
Hunting
Safety and strict adherence to hunting regulations are paramount when hunting in Russia. Be sure that you are clear on all the regulations in your hunting area and know exactly what you are and are not allowed to shoot.
After the hunt
Taxidermy
While certain trophies may be exported in the hunter’s luggage if the necessary paperwork has been completed in advance, most big-game animals such as moose, maral, stag, bears, and wolves must be treated and dried by a taxidermist and a health certificate must be issued before they can be exported. Be sure to bring some business cards with the address of your chosen taxidermist or trophy expeditor and affix one to the skull and one to the skin of your animal to ensure they are shipped to the right place.
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