Reindeer Herding Association urges responsible hunting practices in Northern Finland

The Reindeer Herding Association calls for hunters with dogs to act responsibly in consideration of reindeer husbandry. According to the association, hunting dogs cause damages to reindeer and their management every year in herding areas. They remind hunters that many issues could be avoided if they refrained from entering areas where reindeer work is taking place.

The autumn hunting season coincides with the busiest time for reindeer management, as herders gather reindeer into enclosures and separate those destined for slaughter from the live ones. Aligning hunting activities with reindeer management in the same regions necessitates cooperation.

In Northern Finland, extensive stretches of state-owned land are present. Due to their wilderness appeal, many of these areas are sought-after hunting destinations. However, it has been observed that hunting pressure in some locations has become unsustainably high, as noted by the association in their statement.

The association emphasizes that hunters in reindeer herding zones should train their dogs to be reindeer-safe and maintain distance from reindeer and moose by keeping the dogs on a leash. It is also advisable for dog owners to obtain liability insurance that covers reindeer-related damages.

In the event of an incident, any injured reindeer must be euthanized, and the occurrence should be reported immediately to the police, the emergency center at 112, and the reindeer owner.