Hunter's information bank
As a hunter, you have certain special rights on state-owned lands. In some areas, however, hunting is more restricted than usual.
Hunting in Northern Finland
If you are a permanent resident of an area specified in Section 8 of the Finnish Hunting Act (Finlex.fi) in Northern Finland, you are entitled to hunt free of charge on state-owned lands in your home municipality. This right applies to residents of the Lapland and Kainuu regions, as well as the municipalities of Kuusamo, Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski, and Vaala. The Hunting Act can be read on the Finlex website.
Home municipality is determined by actual place of residence—not necessarily the address registered, if you live elsewhere in reality.
In total, there are approximately 58,000 local hunters in northern Finland. In 2021, some 33,650 non-local hunters purchased permits for forest grouse hunting.
Non-Local Hunters
Metsähallitus always first assesses local hunting pressure. After that, the number of small game hunting permits to be issued per area is determined. Although the areas are extensive, hunters often favor the same spots.
Considering Reindeer Herding
The hunting season coincides with the rutting season for reindeer in late September—one of the busiest periods in reindeer husbandry, when reindeer are gathered into enclosures and slaughter animals are separated from breeding stock.
Frightening reindeer is prohibited under the Reindeer Husbandry Act (§ 42). Sometimes dogs may scatter a herd or even attack a reindeer. In such cases, the dog’s owner is obligated to report the incident and compensate the reindeer owner and reindeer herding cooperative for damages. Confirm with your insurance company in advance that your liability coverage is valid and includes potential damage caused by your dog. The Reindeer Husbandry Act is available on Finlex.
Dog training
You may train hunting dogs on state lands with a specific dog training permit.
Small game dogs
You can purchase permits for training bird or rabbit hunting dogs at Eräluvat.fi or by calling the service number 020 69 2424 (Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00). First, select the desired small game area. Permits can be paid using common payment methods. Dog training permit sales for the upcoming season usually begin in June.
For small game permit areas in Western and Eastern Finland (areas starting with 6 or 7, and area 5636 Lestijärvi), rabbit dog permits are only issued through the regional hunting specialist.
Moose hunting dogs
Moose dog training permits are included in area permits for moose hunting and hunting right lease agreements. In Lapland, Northern Ostrobothnia, and Kainuu, you may apply for a moose dog training permit from the regional specialist if you are not part of a moose hunting party with an area permit. These individual permits are typically issued outside the official moose hunting season. In other parts of Finland, individual training or trial permits are not issued due to smaller hunting areas.
Bear hunting dogs
You can train bear hunting dogs if you are actively hunting bear under an exceptional license or a reindeer herding area permit. If you do not have a bear hunting permit for state lands, you will need a separate training permit.
First, obtain a license from the Finnish Wildlife Agency (Riista.fi). After that, you can get a training permit for state lands from Eräluvat customer service at 020 69 2424 or by email at eraluvat@metsa.fi. These permits are usually available starting in August.
Hunting in nature conservation areas
Hunting is often allowed in nature conservation areas, though restrictions apply to ensure that conservation goals are met for each area.
The Nature Conservation Act divides protected areas into three main types: national parks, nature reserves, and other protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites. Hunting in northern national parks is generally allowed for local residents, but permits for hunting in these parks are not sold.
In southern Finland’s national parks, hunting is generally prohibited. On a case-by-case basis, moose driving or limited hunting may be allowed, such as predator control to protect bird populations. An exception is the Bothnian Sea National Park, which contains small game areas where hunting permits can be purchased.
Hunting in nature reserves is generally prohibited nationwide. In mire protection areas, hunting is often allowed, while forest and grove protection areas tend to have stricter restrictions.
The purpose of nature reserves is to safeguard biodiversity and protect habitats and native species. These goals are shared by both conservation and the sustainable use of game and fish stocks through hunting and fishing.
Leasing hunting areas
Metsähallitus leases hunting rights on state lands to registered hunting clubs under certain conditions. This often applies to areas unsuitable for hunting permit procedures due to small size or remote location.
For more information, contact the regional hunting specialist—contact details can be found on the Eräluvat.fi contact page.