Damage-based exceptional licenses

This affordable hunting permit can be obtained for state-owned lands when the Finnish Wildlife Agency has granted a license to hunt a large carnivore individual causing damage or posing a threat. These permits often come with special conditions regarding the time and location of use. More information about damage-based exceptional licenses for large carnivores is available on the Finnish Wildlife Agency’s website (riista.fi).

Before your hunting party can pursue a large carnivore that has caused damage or danger on state land, a permit from Metsähallitus is also required. The total cost of this permit depends on the number of people in the hunting party. A fee of €5 is charged per participant. For example, if the group consists of 10 hunters, the permit costs €50.

According to Section 8 of the Hunting Act, residents of the Lapland and Kainuu regions as well as the municipalities of Kuusamo, Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski, and Vaala have free hunting rights on state lands. In these areas, local hunters are not charged the €5 fee when hunting large carnivores on state-owned lands within their home municipality.

When removing a large carnivore based on a special order from the police, the hunting party does not need a separate permit from Metsähallitus.