Visit Kristiansand - Hunting game Kristiansand Norway
Norway is a country rich in hunting
and fishing opportunities and Kristiansand is a very popular
place to hunt.
In order to hunt game, it is necessary to have a hunting
licence and permission from the land owner, or to be a
member of an authorised hunting co-operative.
There are good stocks of game in Norway.
The forests and mountains offer large numbers of moose, wild
reindeer, deer, hare, grouse and other large woodland birds.
Freshwater lakes and ponds are full of pike, perch, eel,
trout and char.
Land in Norway is either state-owned or private, and
landowners have the sole right to hunt and trap on their
land. State-owned land is classified either as common land
or “other state-owned land”. All small-game and wild
reindeer hunting on state-owned common land is reserved for
persons resident in Norway for at least one year. However,
anyone, including non-resident foreign nationals, may apply
for permits to hunt elk, red deer, roe deer and beaver.
Applications should be sent to the Directorate for State
Forests and Land, which can provide detailed information
about the requirements for hunting in Norway and answer
questions relating to arms and ammunition (including
importing firearms), hounds, etc.
If you are interested in the full
laws and conditions, you can see
below...
With an area of 385,155 km2, Norway's wide variety of
natural habitats supports an abundant fauna and offers
opportunities for many different kinds of hunting. Important
species of game There are good stocks of moose (Alces alces),
red deer (Cervus elaphus), wild reindeer (Rangifer rangifer)
and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The most sought after
gallinaceous birds are willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus),
ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus), black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix),
capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and hazel hen (Testrastes
bonasis). Waders, ducks, geese and sea birds are plentiful
in some areas. The hare (Lepus timitus) is the most popular
species of small game, but beavers (Castor fiber) can also
be hunted in some parts of the country.
Hunting rights
Land in Norway is either state-owned or private. Landowners
have the sole hunting and trapping rights on their land.
State-owned land is classified either as common land or
"other state-owned land". Common land is a feature of
southern Norway, from Nord-Trøndelag to the south; other
state-owned land is primarily in northern Norway.
COMMON LAND
All small-game and wild reindeer hunting on state-owned
common land is reserved for persons who have resided in
Norway for the past year and are still resident. However,
anyone, including non-resident foreign nationals, may apply
for permits to hunt elk, red deer, roe deer and beaver. The
Directorate for State Forests and Land is responsible for
this hunting and the processing of applications. Persons who
have resided in Norway for the past year and are still
resident have an equal right to engage in small-game hunting
without
a dog. People who are not local residents are now permitted
to engage in both small-game hunting with a dog and wild
reindeer hunting on many areas of common land. Persons who
have resided for the past year in the municipality where the
common land concerned is situated, and still reside there,
nevertheless have first priority to such hunting. Municipal
Common Land Boards have responsibility for small-game and
wild reindeer hunting on common land.
OTHER STATE-OWNED LAND
Norwegians and all persons who have resided in Norway for
the past year and are still resident are permitted to engage
in small-game hunting and trapping on other kinds of
state-owned land, which are mostly found in the three
northernmost counties.
Foreign nationals not resident in Norway can apply for
permission to hunt small and big game. The Directorate for
State Forests and Land is responsible for this hunting and
the processing of applications.
PRIVATELY-OWNED LAND
Owners of private land may, individually or jointly, let
their hunting rights to others, including foreign nationals.
The best access to small-game hunting on private land is
normally in areas where the sale of hunting permits has been
organised through landowners'
associations or local hunting and fishing societies. Hunting
rights for small game in a given area can be hired out
exclusively for longer or shorter periods, but this is more
expensive than the ordinary sale of hunting permits.
LAND BORDERING ON BODIES OF WATER
On rivers and lakes, the hunting and trapping rights of a
landowner extend as far as his or her property rights.
Bordering on the sea or a fjord, they extend to the limit of
dry land. Norwegians and all persons who have resided in
Norway for the past year and are still resident are
permitted to engage in hunting, trapping and shooting beyond
this limit, and generally also on shoals and skerries
submerged at normal high tide. The Governor of the
respective county may in individual cases give foreign
nationals not resident in Norway permission to engage in
such hunting.
Conditions for hunting in Norway
HUNTING PROFICIENCY TEST
All persons aged 16 or over who are not listed on the
Norwegian Register of Hunters must pass a hunting
proficiency test before hunting or trapping. Persons
resident abroad need not take the test provided they satisfy
the conditions for engaging in the same type of hunting in
their home country (place of residence). Further information
regarding the hunting proficiency test may be obtained from
the Directorate for Nature Management or the relevant local
or district authorities.
AGE LIMITS
Applicants may take the hunting proficiency test from their
14th birthday. The minimum age for small-game hunting is 16;
for larger game, 18, and for trapping, 16 (except lynx
trapping, for which the age limit is 18).
HUNTING LICENCE FEE
Persons intending to hunt in Norway must pay a hunting
licence fee to the Wildlife Fund. The fee is for the full
hunting year, from 1 April to 31 March. Payment of the fee
is a prerequisite for hunting, but does not confer the right
to hunt in any specific area. Foreign nationals resident
abroad can obtain a Norwegian hunting licence by sending
documentation of their previous hunting experience to the
Norwegian Register of Hunters at Brønnøysund. Foreign
nationals who have hunted previously can document this
by means of permits, licences or the like. This
documentation should be sent to the Register of Hunters in
good time before the date on which they intend to start
hunting.
HUNTING PERMIT
No hunting is allowed without the landowner’s permission.
Landowners are entitled to demand payment for the right to
hunt, either by selling permits, or by letting the land.
Importing firearms
To obtain permission to bring firearms into Norway, a
foreign national must on entry show the Customs authorities
the gun licence required in his home country. At the same
time, he or she must fill in a prescribed customs
declaration form, stating their name and address, age if
under 21, the type, calibre, trade mark and number of the
firearm, the quantity and type of ammunition, what the
firearm is to be used for and where in Norway it is to be
used. The declaration is certified by the Customs
authorities and is then valid as a gun
licence for a period of three months.
Rules relating to arms and ammunition
In ordinary circumstances only rifles or gunpowder-loaded
shotguns may be used for hunting. The use of pistols,
revolvers, semi-automatic military-style weapons and
automatic firearms is not permitted in hunting.
BIG-GAME HUNTING
For hunting moose, red deer, follow deer, wild reindeer,
wild sheep, musk ox and wolf, only rifles are permitted.
This also applies male roe deer between 10 August and 25
September. For moose, red deer and roe deer, it is forbidden
to use a semi-automatic rifle with more than three
cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber. For other
species of game, use of a semi-automatic rifle with more
than two cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber
is prohibited. For moose, red deer, follow deer, wild
reindeer, wild boar, wild sheep, musk ox, wolf and bear,
ammunition with expanding bullets weighing a minimum 9 grams
is required. a) ammunition whose bullets weigh between 9 and
10 grams (139 and 154 grains) must have an impact energy of
at least 2700 joules (275
kg/m) at a range of 100 metres, E100. b) ammunition whose
bullets weigh more than 10 grams (154 grains or more) must
have an impact energy of at least 2200 joules (225 kg/m) at
a range of 100 metres, E100. When hunting roe deer, beaver,
wolverine and lynx with a rifle, expanding bullets with an
impact energy of at least 980 joules (100 kg/m) at a range
of 100 metres, E100, must be used.
SMALL-GAME HUNTING
Only shotguns with up to two cartridges, and rifles, are
allowed. Saloon rifles using .22 calibre long-rifle bullets
must only be used for hunting small game up to the size of
hares, but not for hares. The use of lead shot is not
permitted for geese, ducks and waders (except woodcock).
Slugs are permitted for hunting wild boar and roe deer. From
1 January 2005 the use of lead shot in hunting is
prohibited.
Dogs
IMPORTING DOGS FROM ABROAD
Persons resident in Sweden and legally visiting Norway can
freely bring dogs into the country. Persons resident in
other countries must present health and vaccination
certificates duly filled in and signed by an authorised
veterinary surgeon. The certificates must be forms drawn up
or approved by the Norwegian Animal Health Inspectorate -
Central Administration. Further information may be obtained
from the Norwegian Animal Health Inspectorate or the
Ministry of Agriculture.
USE OF DOGS IN DEER-HUNTING
For moose, red deer and roe deer, both hunting parties and
individuals hunting alone are required to have a trained dog
available to locate animals that have been shot, but not
found. If such a dog is not present while the hunting is in
progress, written agreement must be obtained ensuring the
availability of such a dog within a reasonable time after
the quarry has fallen. The local authority may require
documentation showing compliance with these conditions.
Shooting proficiency test
No one is allowed to hunt big game with a rifle without
passing a shooting proficiency test for that hunting season.
Big game is here defined as moose, red deer, follow deer,
wild reindeer, roe deer, wild sheep, musk ox, bear, wolf,
wolverine and lynx. The test comprises two parts. First, 30
shots must be fired at a target of the applicant's choice.
Then, for each rifle to be used for hunting big game, five
shots must be fired at an animal figure approved by the
directorate. For combined firearms (rifle-shotgun),
triple-barrelled guns and double-barrelled rifles, three
shots must be fired at the animal figure approved by the
directorate. All shots fired at the animal figure must land
within the approved area. Achievement of the silver medal in
moose shooting (awarded by the Norwegian Association of
Hunters and Anglers) is recognised as a shooting proficiency
test providing the directorate has approved the shooting
programme. The test must be taken without a fixed rest, but
any position may be adopted. Foreign residents are exempt
from the shooting proficiency test provided they satisfy the
requirements for big-game hunting in their country of
residence. Documentary proof to that effect must be shown on
demand to police, game wardens and other supervisory
authorities.
General regulations
Hunting from motorboats or other motorpropelled vessels is
not permitted less than 2 km from the nearest shore, island
or islet. This applies both at sea and on lakes. It is
forbidden to use aircraft or motor vehicles in pursuit of
game, or to distract its attention from hunters. Motorised
transport to and from the hunting ground is permitted to a
certain extent. The use of artificial light during hunting
is forbidden, except for fox hunting with bait provided the
light source is permanently fixed to the wall of a building.
Open season
The landowner, the municipal Common Land Board, the County
Governor, or the municipal authority can provide information
regarding open seasons and opportunities for hunting. A
landowner may set a shorter open season on his or her land
than the authorities have stipulated.
Inquiries relating to various aspects of hunting in Norway
may be directed to the following addresses:
Laws, regulations, hunting proficiency test, open seasons,
permission to shoot by the sea and fjords:
Directorate for Nature Management
N-7485 Trondheim
Tel.: +47 73 58 05 00
Telefax: +47 73 58 05 01
www.dirnat.no
postmottak@dirnat.no
Permission to hunt on state-owned land, local open seasons:
Directorate for State Forests
and Land, Serviceboks 1016
N-7809 Namsos
Tlf.: +47 74 21 30 00
Telefaks: +47 74 21 30 01
www.statskog.no
statskog@statskog.no
Norges Fjellstyresamband
Stortingsgt. 30, 0161 Oslo
Tel.: +47 22 83 15 35
Telefax: +47 22 83 40 41
www.fjellstyrene.no
nfs@fjellstyrene.no
Permission to hunt on private land:
Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation,
Pb. 1438, Vika, 0115 Oslo
Tlf.: +47 22 01 05 50
Telefaks: +47 22 83 40 47
www.skog.no, nsf@skog.no
Hunting in Norway in general:
Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers
Pb. 94, 1378 Nesbru
Tlf.: +47 66 79 22 00
Telefaks: +47 66 90 15 87
www.njff.no, njff@njff.org
Register of hunters, hunting licence:
The Norwegian Register of Hunters
Pb. 398, 8901 Brønnøysund
Tlf.: +47 75 00 79 99
Telefaks: +47 75 00 79 50
www.brreg.no/registrene/jeger
Jegerregisteret@brreg.no
