@Rockstar
I completely agree. That is why I am not just jumping in there and start blasting away. My Old Man sent me his books and course material when he took his Hunters Ed and license in Germany. I have to say, the requirements are for the license are completely different, and in Germany require much more knowledge than it does here in the US.
@Aktungbby
I got something similar, but mine came out of a pawn shop, rather a kit. I shoots fine, but I need to replace the sights since the former owner totally screwed those up.
@Eichhornchen
I do agree for a large part with what you said, but I think a big portion of this is not just "hunting will be for the rich" or lack of land, but also personal and public interest. I grew up around firearms in Germany; my dad made a point out of teaching me the proper safe handling, shooting and maintaining the firearms when I was around 12 or so. Until last year, last time I really handled or shot a firearms of any kind was in '94 when I was still in the German army; after that point I kinda lost interest until I my wife gave me a handgun for my birthday last year.
Traditionally hunters were seen on scale from suspect to murder, at least in the larger German population areas. So that might has to be taken into account when one discusses spread of hunting in Europe and Germany in particular.