Poaching case in Savo challenges a hunter's identity

Finland's most extensive poaching trial has sparked a lively debate on the ethics and legitimacy of hunting and the prevalence of illegal practices. Many hunters have also critically reflected on their personal attitudes towards poaching: what would I do if persons close to me were involved in similar offences?

Hunting is one of the most strictly regulated hobbies in Finland. By and large, a high-quality and disciplined hunting culture in which nature is respected and understood has been established in Finland. For this we can thank an extensive hunting examination focusing on legislation, knowledge of species and hunting methods as well as partly compulsory shooting tests and well-organised hunting clubs.

Consequently, there is a strong conflict between this background and the arguments put forward by those convicted for poaching to motivate illegal practices targeting both game and protected species: dissatisfaction with the policy and legislation on large carnivores, more stringent conditions for hunting with dogs, low risk of being caught, hatred of predators, strong hunting instinct, excitement.

While poaching is self-evidently condemned on a general level and by hunters’ organisations, understanding for these motives has also been expressed around campfires and in publicity.

As hidden crime, poaching is difficult to quantify. The poaching case in Savo was initially uncovered as Metsähallitus’ game wardens looked into illegal moose shootings, rather than primarily through investigating organised and long-standing activities. Subsequent to the previous more extensive case in which wolves were hunted illegally in Perho about 10 years ago, illegal shooting of such species as wolves has been detected regularly. Unlike in many other types of crime, the threshold of reporting poaching to the police may be high for the local community. Going forward, there is an obvious need for hunting supervision carried out by the authorities, game management associations, hunting clubs and landowners.

Reading about the illegal activities in the poaching case in Savo is likely to invoke feelings of shame in hunters because of the stigma attached to a hobby that is personally important for them. However, this case does not cancel out mainstream hunting activities, including knowledge-based, sustainable hunting of game populations, improvement of living environments, social benefits of voluntary work and joint hunts, as well as good administration. Poaching casts a shadow over these strengths and threatens to erode the acceptability of hunting, which has been stable and at high level. Societal acceptability is the ultimate factor that guarantees the future of hunting in our country.

This article was originally published in Maaseudun Tulevaisuudessa on February 26, 2025. "Accused" has been changed to "convicted".