07 January 2003, 10:21
cchunterThis is the information supplied by
http://www.jagareforbundet.seIn Sweden hunting and game preservation are regarded as an integrated and important part of wildlife conservation. Hunting is, and will continue to be, a wise long-term use of renewable natural resources.
Game - both mammals and birds - is essentially protected, and hunting can take place only to the extent and in the ways permitted by law. Protection also extends to eggs and nests.
Who can go hunting?
Every landowner has the hunting rights on his or her land, regardless of whether it is large or small. If landowners do not want to exercise these rights, they can lease them out in whole or in part. Hunting takes place to a greater or lesser extent on most land where it is legally permitted.
Hunting associations
About half the land in Sweden is owned by the state and large companies, particularly in the northern and central regions. On the greater part of this land the hunting rights are leased out to individuals or hunting associations.
In the areas where the available land is limited, co-operation is necessary to ensure viable hunting. Owners of hunting rights in various areas therefore often pool their rights to make larger hunting areas. Co-operation is particularly necessary for moose hunting to ensure conservation of the stock.
Hunters
Hunting is a popular sport in Sweden. There are more than 300.000 hunters, of whom almost 200.000 have chosen to join the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management (Svenska J�garef�rbundet). The association is a voluntary body whose main task is to look after the interests of hunting and hunters. Many hunters are also landowners but more than half lease shooting rights or belong to co-operative associations.
Since 1985 all newcomers to hunting have had to pass an examination comprising five separate parts, both theoretical and practical. Passing this examination is an essential condition for possession of firearms.
However, foreign visitors can obtain permission to bring their own firearms and use them in Sweden. See "Import of firearms" below.
Hunting opportunities for foreign visitors
As almost all hunting land is already accounted for, there are few opportunities to lease shooting rights in Sweden. However, many foreign hunters are invited to enjoy "exchange hunting" in Sweden. Under this scheme a foreign hunter can invite a Swedish hunter to hunt in his own country and is invited, in return, to hunt in Sweden.
Another increasingly popular option is to go hunting in Sweden as a "paying guest", and more and more landowners and hunting co-operatives offer this opportunity to both Swedish and foreign visitors.
Hunting permits Everyone who goes hunting in Sweden must pay an annual hunting conservation fee. The fee is valid for one year, from 1 July to 30 June the following year. For 2002/2003 the annual fee is 200 SEK.
The fee can be paid at all Post Offices. When the fee is paid the receipt is attached to the hunting permit, which must be carried at all times when hunting.
Hunting insurance
If foreign visitors do not have comprehensive insurance cover which is valid in Sweden they must take out a special hunting insurance policy which covers both personal accidents and third party liability. This insurance cover is available to those who join the Swedish Hunters" Association for one year. Membership costs about 270 SEK, including insurance but excluding the association"s magazine. Both the hunting permit and insurance can be arranged through the Swedish hunting host.
Permitted firearms and ammunition
Only rifles can be used for certain game, including moose, red deer and bear. For ammunition the following requirements apply. Bullets which weigh at least 10 grams (154 grains) must have an impact energy of at least 2.000 joules at 100 metres from the muzzle. Bullets which weigh between 9 and 10 grams (139-154 grains) must have an impact energy of at least 2.700 joules 100 metres from the muzzle.
Similar requirements also apply to hunting for fallow deer and wild boar. However, these game species can also be hunted with shotguns loaded with slug-ammunition. Only single-barrel shotguns can be used in this connection.
Beavers are also among the species which can be hunted only with rifles. For roe-deer hunting shotguns are allowed only between 1 October and 31 January. At other times rifles must be used. The minimum ammunition requirement for hunting beaver and roe deer is: bullet weight at least 3.2 grams (50 grains); impact energy of at least 800 joules 200 metres from the muzzle.
Fully jacketed bullets cannot be used for hunting any of the above species.
Shotguns which can be loaded with more than three cartridges may not be used. The largest permitted calibre is 12. Calibres malier than 20 - with certain exceptions - cannot be used for hunting.
The biggest shot size allowed is number US 1 (4 mm).
In certain wetland areas it is forbidden to use lead-shotcartridges. It is also forbidden to use lead-shot cartridges when hunting ducks and geese.
More information about these rules since July 1 2002, look here (in swedish)
Import of firearms
Foreign visitors planning to take their own firearms on a hunting trip to Sweden must start planning in good time and in co-operation with their Swedish host. As a rule it is best for the host to make an application on behalf of the guest.
Permission for the import and export is given by the police authority at the point where the firearms will be brought in to the country. The police have special application forms for this purpose.
Applications must be made in good time, at least one month in advance. The permit to import firearms must be shown to Customs at the point of entry into Sweden. In some cases the police lodge the permit with Customs and it is picked up by the guest when he arrives in the country.
Note! It is very important that the application is sent to the police authority at the point where the firearms will be brought in to the country!
The following information is needed on the application form:
Type of firearm (for example: rifle, bolt action, calibre, make and serial number).
What the weapon will be used for, as well as the period during which it will remain in Sweden (earliest arrival date, latest departure date).
Quantity of ammunition and calibre.
Owner"s name, address and date of birth.
Name, address, profession and telephone number of hunting host/operator.
Name and location of hunting area.
Whether the foreign hunting guest has any type of permit for the weapon in his own country, or other documents which support his right to own a weapon and confirm that he is accustomed to using the weapon for hunting of this type. Copies of such permit or other documents must be attached to the application form.
Place of arrival/departure in Sweden.
Written invitation from the Swedish host or hunting-tour operator.
If the foreign hunting guest is a citizen from a EU country he must, in some cases, also enclose the original of his EU Firearms Pass. Check this with the swedish police authority.
The fee for a permit to import firearms is 475 SEK, regardless of how many weapons are imported. The fee must be paid at the time of application.
Visitors from Denmark, Finland or Norway with permanent permission from proper authority to own and use firearms for private use in these countries may, without any special import permit or fee, to Sweden import these firearms and ammunition belonging to them. The firearms and ammunition may be used in Sweden for a period of maximum three months. The permit of the weapon should be brought along or - regarding Denmark and Finland - the European Firearms Pass.
Addresses of the police authorities at the points where foreign hunters usually arrive when they visit Sweden:
Polismyndigheten i Stockholms l�n
Flygplatspolisen Arlanda
Box 38
S-190 45 STOCKHOLM-ARLANDA
Tel + 46-8-401 53 01, (401 53 11)
Polismyndigheten i Sk�ne l�n
Vapen�renden
S-205 90 MALM�
Tel + 46-40-20 10 00
Trelleborgs Polisomr�de
Vapen�renden
Box 1
S-231 21 TRELLEBORG
Tel + 46-410-624 00
Helsingborgs Polisomr�de
Vapen�renden
Box 632
S-251 06 HELSINGBORG
Tel + 46-42-17 40 00
Ystads Polisomr�de
Vapen�renden
Box 1015
S-271 00 YSTAD
Tel + 46-411-675 00
Polismyndigheten i V�stra G�taland Tillst�ndsgruppen
Box 429
S-401 26 G�TEBORG
Tel + 46-31-739 35 40 (739 20 00)
Borrowing firearms
It is possible for foreign guests to borrow firearms from a Swedish hunter. If the owner of the weapon is always together with the person who has borrowed the weapon within a few metres - the only requirements are that the foreign hunter must be at least 15 years of age and be in possession of a Swedish hunting permit.
If the foreign hunter wants to borrow a weapon for his own use he must be at least 18 years old and be permitted to use the same type of weapon in his own country. The Swedish owner of the weapon must draw up a loan certificate which must be written on a photocopy of his permit for the weapon. On the photocopy must be stated the name of the guest hunter, his home address and address in Sweden, as well as the purpose and duration of the loan, which cannot be longer than 14 days. The information about the guest hunter and his loan of the weapon must be signed by the Swedish owner of the weapon.
Moose-hunting tests
Foreign hunters who want to go hunting for moose in Sweden should arrange through their host to visit a moose-hunting training range before the hunt.
Many landowners and hunting hosts makes it a requirement that moose hunters must have passed a recognised test at the bronze level before they take part in the hunt.
During the test, hunters shoot at a life-size figure of a moose at a distance of 80 metres.
The test involves shooting at the figure both while it is stationary and when it is "running".
Dogs
Dogs imported into Sweden must be vaccinated against rabies, leptospirosis and canine distemper. They must also carry an identification mark and the Agricultural Agency must give permission for the import. If these requirements are not met, dogs must be kept in quarantine for four months. It will be obvious, therefore, that it is relatively complicated to bring a dog into Sweden.
Statens Jordbruksverk
Vallgatan 8
551 82 J�NK�PING
Tel + 46-36-15 50 00
Roe deer.
Hunting seasons
The hunting seasons in Sweden cover mainly the autumn and winter (August-February). The start and duration of the season for a particular species can vary considerably between one part of Sweden and another. It is therefore necessary for foreign hunters to find out through their host what dates apply to the area where they plan to hunt.
Moose hunting in southern and central Sweden starts at the beginning of October and continues for about two months. In northern Sweden the season for moose starts at the beginning of September and is divided into two parts with a break during the rutting season towards the end of September and beginning of October.
In the smallest hunting areas moose hunting is allowed for only a few days.
The season for roe deer is longer. It starts on 16 August with hunting for bucks. In southern and central Sweden hunting for kids is allowed from 1 September, and all roe deer can be taken from 1 October. In northern Sweden roe-deer hunting finishes on 31 December and in the rest of Sweden on 31 January. Certain provinces also permit hunting for bucks between 1 May and 15 June.
For hazel hen, black grouse and capercaillie hunting is permitted from 25 August, except in Sk�ne and on Gotland.
Red grouse and ptarmigan occur only in northern Sweden, where the hunting season starts on 25 August.
Beaver are found in parts of central and northern Sweden and hunting is permitted fr o m 1 October to 10 or 15 May. The best season for beaver is normally the latter part of April and the beginning of May.
Hunting seasons in Sweden are reviewed by the government every third year. Please note also that owners of hunting rights may limit the normal seasons for certain species for example, by starting the season later than normal, or closing the season before the usual date.
What time of day?
Moose can be hunted from one hour before sunrise until sunset.
Certain species, including roe deer, fallow deer and red deer can be hunted from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. After sunset only stalking or sitting up are allowed.
For other species, 24-hour hunting is permitted, provided it is during the lawful season.
Fallow deer Photo: Madeleine Th�rnqvist
Wounded animals
The Swedish hunting laws are very strict, particularly regarding wounded animals. When hunting ungulates it is a requirement that a specially trained tracker dog can be available within two hours. For certain bird species it is a requirement that a dog is present during the shoot.
It is a duty of the Swedish hunting hosts to ensure that these requirements are observed.
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. I was at the Tj�rn� marine biology research station for some days in july and man, taking a dive in the sea during the hottest days that was a relieve.