North Hunt

The University of Helsinki, Ruralia-institute has published a research report regarding hunting tourism is conducted on state-owned land. The report has four elements:

1. The expected amount of local hunters in 2040
2. Business models
3. 1. small game
   2. big game
4. The current license system
5. The economic effects of hunting tourism

The geographical area of the study is the North Finland where the local hunters have a law-protected, free hunting right on State land in their own municipality.

Hunting as a widely practiced recreational activity in Finland provokes plenty of discussions as different stakeholders have various, sometimes conflicting, values and goals. The  stakeholders directly influenced by hunting activities are landowners, entrepeneurs, local people, indigenous people, hunting tourists, hunting clubs and hunting organizations. Many other stakeholder groups such as other forest users (trekkers, berry pickers, photographers, bird watchers, fishermen), the local economy, other tourists, etc can be indirectly influenced by hunting.

Hunting rights in Finland are bound to land ownership and hunting can be done on private or state-owned land. In Finland hunters on state-owned land consist of two main groups which are the local hunters and the permit hunters. Residents of North-Finnish towns have the right to hunt on state-owned land in their town of residence without applying for a permit. Then there are those hunters that do not have reasonable access to hunting grounds and need to apply for state licences. The state’s obligation is to allocate the hunting licences in a sustainable and fair manner. This is done through careful monitoring of game populations and evaluating the sustainable amount of permits keeping in mind local hunting. The state’s role is crucial as most of the hunting grounds in the rural North are owned by the state.

The Finnish hunting culture is distinct from the hunting cultures of most countries with its focus on the hunting event rather than shooting. Due to the unique game species, clean nature, safe environment and large wilderness areas, domestic and international demand exists for Finnish hunting products. The business opportunity is influenced by laws and regulations, local habits and general business conditions. The best opportunities for hunting tourism are located in the areas where the hunting conditions in general are advantageous: the Northen regions of Finland. The local population structure is suspected to lead to dicreased local hunting pressure and therefore increased ecological potential for hunting tourism.

The objective of the study is to describe and classify the ways in which different game is hunted and possible business arrangements in connection to hunting. The models are evaluated from an ecological, social and economic point of view. Moose and small game are assessed individally. The study also looks into the effects developments in the local population structre have on local hunting pressure and the impact hunting tourism has on the local economy.

The method of the study is semi-structured interviews with stakeholders. The goal is to achieve a versatile view of the phenomena and its volume. The target groups for the interviews are state hunting planners, hunting organizations, hunting clubs, hunting entrepeneurs and hunters. In each interview one aim is to gain understanding of key players in the area. The themes to be covered include hunting in the target area, hunting models, hunting entrepeneurship, foreign hunting tourists and the future of hunting.

The study was carried out by Ruralia institute in 2008 – 2009. A Finnish report of the results can be found online:

http://www.helsinki.fi/ruralia/julkaisut/pdf/Julkaisuja18.pdf

For further information (and an english summary) please contact project planner Susanna Keskinarkaus and Project Manager Anne Matilainen:

Contact information:

Susanna Keskinarkaus
University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute, Seinäjoki
Tel. +358 (0)6  421 3335
Fax. +358 (0)6 421 3301
susanna.keskinarkaus@helsinki.fi
http://www.helsinki.fi/ruralia/seinajoki

Anne Matilainen,
University of Helsinki, Ruralia Institute, Seinäjoki
Tel. +358 (0)6  421 3337
Gsm. +358 (0)50 5240 814
Fax. +358 (0)6 421 3301
anne.matilainen@helsinki.fi
http://www.helsinki.fi/ruralia/seinajoki