The information on this page is general, is not legal advice, and laws change. We cite the source and the date we checked it. Before buying or using a device, verify the rules with the relevant authority or hunting association. Last checked: 9 Nov 2026.
In short: On 1 Jan 2026 the Czech Republic’s new Weapons and Ammunition Act (No. 90/2024 Coll.) took effect. The ban on weapon sights built on the night-vision principle in § 45(1)(g) of the Hunting Act was not removed by that Act itself but by the accompanying Act No. 220/2025 Coll. (Part 14, Art. XVI point 5), also in force from 1 Jan 2026. Thermal cameras and clip-ons were not a prohibited weapon accessory even under the 2014 joint statement of the ministries and the police (on the former Act). Other hunting rules still apply, such as the ban on artificial light sources and the limitation of night shooting to listed species.
Why the topic is confusing
Many online answers to “can hunters in Czechia use night vision or thermal?” are based on rules that no longer apply. The former Weapons Act No. 119/2002 Coll. was repealed on 1 Jan 2026 (§ 151(1) of Act No. 90/2024 Coll.) and replaced by the new Weapons and Ammunition Act. At the same time, the accompanying Act No. 220/2025 Coll. amended § 45 of the Hunting Act (zákon o myslivosti), which lists prohibited hunting methods. Below we separate what applied before from what applies under the version in force since 1 Jan 2026.
What applied until the end of 2025
In 2014 the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior and the Czech Police issued a joint statement on the then Weapons Act No. 119/2002 Coll. Under it, the only prohibited weapon accessory was a weapon sight built on the night-vision principle – a single optoelectronic unit designed to be mounted on a weapon that provides both night vision and aiming. Owning one required a police exemption; the applicant needed a valid firearms licence and hunting licence.
The same statement explicitly listed what was not a prohibited accessory:
- thermal and CCD cameras (a different principle from image intensification),
- night vision devices without a reticle (no aiming function),
- a device mounted on a weapon only to observe the target area, not to aim,
- a night vision clip-on placed in front of or behind a standard day scope – according to the ministries, combining two separate devices does not create a sight “constructed” on the night-vision principle.
Content of the statement: Verified 9 Nov 2026. This interpretation concerned Act No. 119/2002 Coll. We mention it as historical context; we did not find a separate ministry statement on night vision under the new Act. Whether the ministries still hold this view (e.g. on thermal riflescopes): Not verified – check with the authority.
What applies from 1 January 2026
Weapons and Ammunition Act No. 90/2024 Coll.
In the consolidated text of Act No. 90/2024 Coll. (Zákony pro lidi) we did not find the terms “night vision device”, “night vision” or “sight”. The Act therefore lists night sights neither among regulated firearm parts nor as a prohibited accessory, as the previous law did. Act No. 90/2024 Coll. does not itself amend the Hunting Act. It applies in full to firearms, ammunition and regulated firearm parts. Not fully verified – check with the authority: we searched most of the Act, not all of it, and found no Interior Ministry statement on night vision under the new Act.
Hunting Act No. 449/2001 Coll., § 45
The ban was removed by Act No. 220/2025 Coll., which amends certain acts in connection with the adoption of the Weapons and Ammunition Act and the Munitions Act. Its Part 14, Art. XVI point 5 deletes the words “weapon sights built on the night-vision principle” from § 45(1)(g) and adds “or ammunition” at the end of that letter. It took effect on 1 Jan 2026. The Přelouč Municipal Office, acting as a hunting authority, also states that this ban ends on 1 Jan 2026 in a briefing for hunting managers (14 Oct 2025), and the consolidated Hunting Act in force from 1 Jan 2026 no longer mentions night-vision devices in letter (g). Verified 9 Nov 2026.
Section 45(1) still contains rules that directly affect night hunting:
- Letter (g) still prohibits hunting with artificial light sources, mirrors, target-illumination devices, recorded game calls and other listed means.
- Letter (l) prohibits shooting game at night (from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise), except wild boar, females and young of other cloven-hoofed game, badger, brown hare, wild rabbit, stone marten and red fox, which may be shot at night only with suitable observation and shooting optics.
The rules in letters (g) and (l) above: Verified 9 Nov 2026.
We have not verified from an official source whether the ban on “artificial light sources” also covers the infrared illuminator built into some digital devices. Not verified – check with the authority: if your device has one, ask the hunting authority before use.
Overview: observation device vs. sight
It helps to separate three types of device. This is a technical distinction, not a legal assessment of any specific product:
| Device type | What it does | How the sources describe it |
|---|---|---|
| Observation device (monocular, binocular, handheld thermal) | observation only; no reticle, no weapon mount | not a prohibited accessory even under the 2014 interpretation |
| Clip-on (front or rear) for a day scope | adds a night or thermal image; you aim with the day scope’s reticle | not a prohibited accessory under the 2014 interpretation |
| Night vision riflescope (one unit with its own reticle) | night vision and aiming in one device | prohibited weapon accessory until 31 Dec 2025 (police exemption needed); ban in § 45(1)(g) of the Hunting Act removed from 1 Jan 2026 by Act No. 220/2025 Coll. |
| Thermal riflescope | thermal image and aiming in one device | the 2014 interpretation placed thermal cameras outside the night-vision category; we found no separate statement on thermal riflescopes |
Practical points
- Hunting rules (seasons, night shooting, artificial light) apply whatever device you use.
- Conditions can differ between hunting grounds – the hunting-ground user and the hunting authority also set rules.
- When taking a device abroad, check the destination country; other EU states have their own rules (see our EU overview).
- Exporting outside the EU may require an authorisation for some devices with an image intensifier tube or thermal sensor under Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on dual-use items.
- Keep your proof of purchase and the device documentation – it helps with checks and with service.
- If in doubt, ask the hunting authority (hunting use) or the Czech Police (firearms and firearm parts).
Contact
Customers in Czechia can also contact our official representative B-Rdy. If you are unsure which type of device fits your use, contact us – we cannot give a legal assessment of a specific situation; that is for the authority or a lawyer.
Important notice
Every country has its own laws, and they change. We processed these rules carefully from primary sources – the laws and documents linked above – and had them independently checked. Even so, there may be gaps, or a rule may have changed since we checked it. This article is not legal advice.
We recommend that everyone study the relevant EU rules and the laws of their own country, and of the country where they will use the device. If you are unsure, contact the competent authority or a lawyer, or send us a specific question.
Sources
- Czech Act No. 90/2024 Coll. on Weapons and Ammunition (in force from 1 Jan 2026; § 151(1) repeals Act No. 119/2002 Coll.) – Zákony pro lidi (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Czech Act No. 220/2025 Coll. amending certain acts in connection with the adoption of the Weapons and Ammunition Act and the Munitions Act, Part 14, Art. XVI point 5 (in force from 1 Jan 2026) – Zákony pro lidi (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Czech Act No. 449/2001 Coll. on Hunting (zákon o myslivosti), § 45(1)(g) and (l), version in force from 1 Jan 2026 – Zákony pro lidi (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Přelouč Municipal Office, Environment Department (hunting authority), briefing for hunting managers dated 14 Oct 2025, ref. MUPC/2025/OŽP/NF – changes to the Hunting Act from 1 Jan 2026 (Act No. 220/2025 Coll.) – PDF (ČMMJ Pardubice) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Joint statement of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior and the Czech Police on night vision riflescopes (2014, under the former Act No. 119/2002 Coll.) – eAGRI / MZe (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on the control of exports of dual-use items, Art. 3(1) and Art. 11(1) – EUR-Lex (checked 9 Nov 2026)
The information on this page is general, is not legal advice, and laws change. We cite the source and the date we checked it. Before buying or using a device, verify the rules with the relevant authority or hunting association. Last checked: 9 Nov 2026.