Night vision and thermal for hunting in Slovakia: the rules for the 2026/2027 season

We write this as a night vision and thermal dealer, not as lawyers. Each statement is labelled: Verified 9 Nov 2026. = we have the text of the law or an official document; Our inference. = our reading of the text, no official opinion found; Not verified – check with the authority. = something we could not confirm.

1. What the Hunting Act says

Act No. 274/2009 Coll. on Hunting distinguishes prohibited and improper hunting methods (§ 65). The relevant provisions are:

• § 65(2)(c) – hunting with sights and riflescopes with a night-shooting viewfinder using electronic image magnification or inversion “and other similar devices enabling shooting at night”, infrared sights, night vision devices, laser sights, light-intensifying sights and optical sights adapted for night vision is prohibited. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
• § 65(2)(k) – hunting with artificial light sources and target-illuminating devices is prohibited. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
• § 65(3)(d) – hunting at night (from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise) is an improper method, with the exceptions listed in the Act. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
• § 72(p) and (q) – exceptions from prohibited and improper methods are granted by the Ministry (MPRV SR). Verified 9 Nov 2026.

The word “thermal” does not appear in § 65. In our reading, a thermal riflescope is a “similar device enabling shooting at night” and falls under the same ban. Our inference. We found no official Ministry opinion on thermal devices.

2. The exceptions for the 2026/2027 season

Wild boar

By letter No. 3583/2026 5410/2026-740 of 17 Feb 2026, MPRV SR issued an exception from prohibited and improper methods of hunting wild boar (published 24 Feb 2026, PDF). According to page 1 of the document, for wild boar from 1 Mar 2026 to 28 Feb 2027 it allows:

• an exception from the prohibited methods in § 65(2)(c) (night vision, infrared and light-intensifying sights, night-shooting sights and similar devices) and (k) (artificial light), Verified 9 Nov 2026.
• an exception from the improper methods in § 65(3)(d), (e), (i) and (k) – including hunting wild boar at night with the devices under § 65(2)(c) and (k). Verified 9 Nov 2026.

Red, fallow and mouflon deer, sika deer, fox and invasive species

By letter No. 3616/2026 5414/2026-740 of 18 Feb 2026, MPRV SR also issued an exception from prohibited and improper hunting methods for other species (published 24 Feb 2026, PDF). According to page 1 of the document, from 1 Mar 2026 to 28 Feb 2027, for red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, sika deer, red fox, muskrat, coypu, American mink, raccoon dog and raccoon it allows:

• an exception from the prohibited method in § 65(2)(c) (night vision and night-shooting sights), Verified 9 Nov 2026.
• an exception from the improper methods in § 65(3)(a), (d) and (j) – including hunting these species at night with the devices under § 65(2)(c). Verified 9 Nov 2026.

Unlike the wild boar exception, page 1 of this one does not mention point (k) – artificial light. Verified 9 Nov 2026. Roe deer is not on the list, so the ban still applies to it. Verified 9 Nov 2026.

3. How the exceptions have changed

The exceptions are temporary. So far the Ministry has issued them for one hunting season at a time, usually in February. We do not know what will happen after 28 Feb 2027. Not verified – check with the authority.

4. Buying and owning: firearms law

Act No. 500/2021 Coll. (Art. I point 16, in force since 18 Dec 2021) amended § 4(4) of Act No. 190/2003 Coll. on Firearms and Ammunition: since then, the only prohibited firearm accessory is a sound suppressor (from 1 Jul 2025 only one that does not meet the conditions of a special regulation). Night vision and thermal sights are not prohibited accessories. Verified 9 Nov 2026.

In our reading, buying and owning an observation device (monocular, binocular, handheld thermal) or a riflescope is therefore not restricted in Slovakia. Our inference. Sales and exports are governed by EU dual-use rules – see our article on night vision laws in Europe.

5. Where our information ends

We could not reliably verify the following. If it matters to you, ask MPRV SR or your district hunting chamber directly:

• Clip-ons and handheld observation devices. § 65(2)(c) refers to sights. It does not say explicitly whether it covers a clip-on in front of a day scope or observation with a handheld device, and we found no official interpretation. Not verified – check with the authority.
• IR illuminators. We found no official confirmation of whether an infrared illuminator is an “artificial light source” under § 65(2)(k). Not verified – check with the authority.
• Full texts of the 2026/2027 exceptions. We read page 1 of both documents (scope, species, period). We have not checked other conditions in the new texts, e.g. whether military districts are excluded (as they were in 2025/2026). Not verified – check with the authority.
• After 28 Feb 2027. Whether the Ministry will renew the exception. Not verified – check with the authority.

Where to check

• Slovak Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – hunting, exceptions and permits
• Slovak Hunting Chamber and district hunting chambers
• district office (hunting administration) where the hunting ground is located
• Slovak police – questions about firearms and accessories

Disclaimer

We prepared this text as carefully as we could from publicly available laws and Ministry documents. We are not lawyers and this article is not legal advice. Every country has its own rules, exceptions change every year and our overview may have gaps. We recommend reading the Hunting Act and the current Ministry exception yourself, or contacting the authority or the hunting chamber. If you have a specific question, write to us – we will help you find the right source.

Sources

• Act No. 274/2009 Coll. on Hunting, § 65 and § 72 – Slov-Lex (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• MPRV SR: Exception from prohibited and improper methods of hunting wild boar, letter No. 3583/2026 5410/2026-740 of 17 Feb 2026 – mpsr.sk, PDF (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• MPRV SR: Exception from prohibited and improper hunting methods, letter No. 3616/2026 5414/2026-740 of 18 Feb 2026 – mpsr.sk, PDF (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• MPRV SR: 2025/2026 exception, letter No. 5478/2025-740 – polovnickakomora.sk (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• MPRV SR and ŠVPS SR: ASF National Eradication Programme 2025 – svps.sk (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• MPRV SR: Extraordinary permit to hunt wild boar 2026 – polovnickakomora.sk (checked 9 Nov 2026)
• Act No. 190/2003 Coll. on Firearms and Ammunition, § 4 – Slov-Lex; Act No. 500/2021 Coll., Art. I point 16 – Slov-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.