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The Wildlife Service Finland, Metsähallitus carry their responsibility for Finnish nature. It conduct expert wilderness supervision to ensure that Finland's natural resources are used sustainably and according to good practices. These wilderness supervision efforts are headed by Metsähallitus' game and fisheries wardens whose work entails the supervision of fishing, hunting, off-road traffic and other wilderness activities. They conduct their work in state-owned areas, which comprise roughly one third of Finland’s surface area.

Game and fisheries wardens are law enforcement officers whose rights are very similar to those of police officers. Supervision of fishing, hunting and off-road traffic is carried out in co-operation with other authorities and partners, such as the police and the Finnish Border Guard.

News about Wilderness Supervision

Wilderness crime was on the rise

29.02.2024

Last year, there were more instances of fishing without a permit and more use of illegal means of hunting large predators, reveals the wilderness supervision report published today by Metsähallitus. Wilderness supervision inspected nearly 7,000 people during the year. The inspections resulted in 520 measures: 57 cases were referred for pre-trial investigation and 463 resulted in more lenient measures.

Hunters and fishers applied for more than 185,000 permits for state-owned areas

02.02.2024

The number exceeds the previous year's permits by 6,000 and the pre-pandemic levels by 20,000. The demand for wilderness permits would be even higher at many sites, but hunting and fishing is restricted by quotas. 

In the future, the Outdoor etiquette for fishers and hunters will be followed in state-owned areas

21.07.2023

Hunters and fishers are expected to observe the new Outdoor etiquette in Metsähallitus fishing waters and hunting areas in the future. The Outdoor etiquette emphasises respect for the catch or game, nature, and other people enjoying nature. Approximately 200,000 hunting and fishing permits are purchased for state-owned areas each year.

More than 500 nature visitors required intervention

28.12.2022

For the first time, Metsähallitus wilderness supervision has monitored the results of its work in real time throughout the year. The new system reveals that 368 people violated the law while in nature, and 169 people were caught without necessary permits.

Game and Fisheries Staff

Are you looking for a specific person or information on a certain area?

You'll find the right person on the page Game and fisheries staff.

Off-road terrain or road?

Roads constructed by Metsähallitus can be used by vehicles, but driving cross-country is prohibited without a special off-road traffic licence. It is for the driver to recognise the difference between a built road and a cross-country track.

Read more about differences between off-road terrain and road.