US Army Garrison Wiesbaden Hunters

[MattieA65]

John Thruelson, with a nice Reh. Waidmannsheil
20151011 John Thruelsen, Reh, 11 October 2015.jpg

[sharps4590]

Tis a nice reh. Looks like a M/S, which one?

[Diz]

John, Waidmannsheil, nice Reh and thanks for your service. Diz

[mike ford]

John,
Waidmannsheil, I think it would be very informative if you would write something about the new(current) procedures servicemen have to comply with to be able to hunt, and something about the remaining Rod and Gun Clubs. I also appreciate your service.
Mike

[MattieA65]

Hello Mr. Ford, sharps4590 & Diz,
I got John Thruelsen's permission to post his photo for him. Note: In future, we'll identify hunters by first name and first letter of last name only, e.g. John T. I don't know what type of Mannlicher Schoenauer he has. To own firearms and hunt in Germany as a US Service Member these days, one must obtain either a Jagdschein (German hunting license) or a sport shooting qualification. One can't hunt with the sport shooting qualification, but one can compete in shooting matches with a Jagdschein, so the latter is the way to go. Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) offers German-approved & audited hunting courses twice per calendar year at up to nine US garrisons: Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Ramstein, Kaiserslautern, Baumholder, Spangdahlem, Ansbach, Grafenwoehr, and Hohenfels. Class sizes range from 5-20. MWR puts on far fewer sport shooting qualification courses, due to lack of demand. Owning weapons for sport shooting in Germany is conditional upon regular, documented practice and participation in matches, so this avenue isn't popular with American Service Members. As far as actual Rod & Gun clubs with shooting ranges and sporting goods stores, I have personally been to two: Ramstein (Vogelweh), and Baumholder. There might be one at Spandahlem, but I don't know for sure. Here at Wiesbaden, we don't have a Rod & Gun, so MWR runs a monthly recreational shoot at a local US Army range complex. They rent weapons and sell ammunition to raise funds. There is no longer any opportunity to buy a weapon at an American Rod & Gun without having a German hunting license or sport shooting document. However, once one has a hunting license, the only real limits are budget and space in the gun safe (required to store guns in safes of a certain standard). One can bring home weapons bought in Germany. Long guns can be shipped with household goods, while pistols (I think) need to go via checked-in luggage. The hunting scene is very active, with Americans integrated into German reviers. More than a few retired Americans are revier leaseholders, or "Paechters." For those who want more detailed explanation of the current law, procedures, and support, here is the US Army Europe MWR site on Hunting, Fishing and Sport Shooting, http://wiesbaden.armymwr.com/europe/...hing-sport-sho. WMH!

[MattieA65]

20151020 Bill G Red Stag.JPG20151020 Bob Hubble with Rehbock - Copy.JPG

Bill H. and Bob H. with, respectively, a Red Stag and Rehbock.

[MattieA65]

Jaeger Students training for the Jagdschein Test

20151020 Jaeger Students Training at WSG - 1.JPG

Kaelyn P. and Chase R., training to pass the marksmanship portion of the Hunting Course. Both passed, and are now "Jungjaeger."

[mike ford]

MattieA65,
Thanks a lot for the info and link. It is taking a while for me to get through all of the info, so I didn't want you to think I was ignoring it. I will reply again later. Until then, I suggest any other members stationed in Germany, about to be stationed there, or have children about to be stationed there, read your reply and the link.
Mike

[Eurrider]

WmH mattieA65, just got back to Germany and in the K-town area

[MattieA65]

WmH, Eurrider! There is a very active hunting scene in that area. Just before Christmas, I was on a night hunt after Schwarzwild with Mike W. and his crew. I had one in my scope, but couldn't tell exactly what it was (can't shoot a Leitbache), and passed on it. Note to self. Stop making fun of those German trench warfare-sized optics and buy some myself!

[mike ford]

MattieA65,
German hunters have long enough seasons that they have much more experience than we have. We would all do well to pay attention to the way they do it, and what they do it with. I am amazed by the number of Americans that choose a scope for a drilling for the way it looks, instead of how it works.
Mike

[MattieA65]

MattieA65,
German hunters have long enough seasons that they have much more experience than we have. We would all do well to pay attention to the way they do it, and what they do it with. I am amazed by the number of Americans that choose a scope for a drilling for the way it looks, instead of how it works.
Mike

Mike, that was a joke.

[stumpstalker]

John T. and his Rehbock upright.

[mike ford]

This makes me homesick for the way it was 45 years ago.
Mike

[DreyseM65]

Great thread! I missed it before. Things sure have changed since I was there from '85-'90. Never hunted but shot competitively (IPSC) in matches all over Germany and some in Switzerland, France, and Belgium. Can't even count all the pistols and rifles I brought home.