Hunting and wildlife management

The Role of Hunting in Management

Hunting is an important tool in Norwegian wildlife management. Through regulated hunting, wildlife populations are kept at a level that nature and agriculture can tolerate. Without hunting, populations of deer and other game can grow so large that they cause grazing damage to forests and farmland, and increase the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Sustainable Harvesting

Sustainable harvesting means that the removal of wildlife does not exceed the population’s ability to reproduce. The principle ensures that future generations can also hunt. Management is based on:

• Annual population surveys and reporting
• Quotas set by municipalities and reindeer management boards
• Hunting statistics reported to Statistics Norway
• Scientific advice from NINA and the Norwegian Environment Agency

Wildlife Management in Practice| Administrative Level | Responsibility |

| — | — | | Norwegian Environment Agency | Sets hunting seasons and national frameworks | | County Governor | Regional management and appeals authority | | Municipality | Allocates quotas for large game | | Landowner | Manages hunting rights on own property | | Hunter | Reports kills and conducts tracking |

Biodiversity

Biodiversity in Norwegian nature depends on the balance between species. Predators such as wolf, lynx, wolverine, and bear are protected through the predator agreement and are managed with their own population goals. Hunters contribute to monitoring biodiversity through seen and shot reporting.

Hunter’s responsibility

A responsible hunter takes into account nature’s resilience and follows applicable regulations. Important duties:- Report all kills and observations

• Follow established quotas and hunting seasons
• Do not hunt protected species
• Contribute to tracking in case of injured game
• Show respect for nature and other users of the wilderness

The Right to Roam

The right to roam gives everyone the right to travel in uncultivated land, but the hunting rights belong to the landowner. To hunt, you must have permission from the landowner or rent hunting rights through a hunting team. On state land, hunting rights are managed by Statskog or the mountain board.

Nature management is core curriculum for the hunter’s exam . Also read about game and hunting seasons and hunting methods . Practice with a free theory test .