Hunting in Enontekiö

Metsähallitus takes care of the state-owned lands and waters, managing hunting, fishing and snowmobiling sustainably. Its licences are an investment in nature, as the income they raise is used to benefit it. Their mission is to arrange hunting and fishing opportunities for those who wouldn't otherwise have them, and their game and fisheries wardens monitor the state grounds. More information: www.eraluvat.fi

Managed by Metsähallitus on a principle of sustainable development
Main game: willow grouse, hare and waterfowl
Wilderness permits: 1615 (Näkkälä), 1616 (Nunnanen); Käsivarsi is Hunting Area 1613
Use of hounds is strictly forbidden to protect reindeer herding
Limited day-by-day small game permits available to non-locals

Hunting and Game Management

Game and reindeer management in Finland stays within the limits of the sustainable use of natural resources. The most common game animals are hare, grouse, waterfowl and elk. Hunting is scaled to game stocks, and the reindeer population to what Lapland's grazing areas will tolerate.

Metsähallitus has 123 destinations offering a small-game hunting licence, plus elk-hunting destinations, which are always applied for in January.

Permanent residents of the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki may hunt on state-owned lands in their municipality. Locals may also trap the willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus), an important source of income for many Enontekiö families.

To hunt in the Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area you need permit 1615 for Näkkälä or permit 1616 for Nunnanen. Local game includes willow grouse, hare and water birds. A limited number of small-game permits are sold a day at a time, so non-locals can hunt here too. Reindeer husbandry is an important livelihood, so the use of hounds is strictly forbidden even with a permit. Käsivarsi is part of Hunting Area 1613 (game: willow grouse and northern hare).

Where to buy permits

Hunting permits are sold by Skierri (the Fell-Lapland Nature Centre), Siida – the Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre, and Customer Service Ivalo, as well as by local tourist and activity enterprises and the Metsähallitus netstore (www.eräluvat.fi). For further information see the Enontekiö website (www.enontekio.fi).

Regulation of Hunting

Finnish hunting legislation is founded on sustainable development. The size and trends of game populations govern the regulation of hunting set down in the Hunting Act and Hunting Decree. Restrictions on methods aim to preserve game populations and the traditional character of hunting rather than maximise efficiency. Prohibited means include explosives, poisons, automatic weapons, live animals as decoys, and lead pellets in waterfowl hunting. In the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki the season for willow grouse and ptarmigan runs from April 1 to September 9.