I have an invitation from a good friend to come hunt with him near his home, about 150 km SW of Stockholm in January. I was there a few weeks ago and saw some fantastic fallow stags as well as a very good roebuck. He says that moose and boar are also on the menu.

While he's given me a good idea of what to expect in weather and hunting styles, I would enjoy additional comments and advice (never in short supply here on AR!) from those who live in or have hunted Sweden.

I've hunted moose and boar with friends in Sweden a few times over the last five years, mostly in Smorland, near Vastervik - where moose are concerned, my best advice is to have low expectations of getting a shot and just enjoy the whole cultural experience. I was hunting driven moose with guys who'd been hunting moose every season for years and who still hadn't got their beast - but because they all benefitted from the meat, who got the shot didn't really matter.

Dress warmly - it will be colder than a penguin's arse in January - -20 celsius for a few minutes is cold but absolutely agony when you have to stand still for an hour and your feet begin freezing. I wear Laksen sheepskin lined boots with heated insoles.

Borrow the traditional three-legged hunting stool from your host to take out with you, as there's lots of waiting. If you get a chance of a shot, take it fast as you probably wont get a second one.

Don't forget your extendable two-pronged toasting fork for cooking your sausages over a wood fire at lunch time, before the traditional crayfish soup.

Make sure you fully understand what is allowed to be shot before you are left on a stand - unless you speak Swedish you won't have a clue what's happening over the radio and each hunting area has a different criteria for shootable moose - e.g. limited numbers and specific gender, size of bull, one calf out of twins etc. Fines are common if you shoot the wrong thing!

If you are going to hunt boar or moose on foot over dogs, you need to be pretty fit as you'll cover a lot of ground and those birchwood and boulder forests are tougher than they look, despite the relatively flat terrain. If you haven't hunted moose before, prepare to be amazed at how silently such a big animal can move and how stupid a moose looks when it runs... The boar are pretty similar to feral hogs - bad tempered, fast moving and a blast to hunt.

Avoid all offers of a nip of Jaegermeister from a hipflask - it's an evil brew vaguely reminiscent of cough medicine mixed with ethanol...

Most of all, enjoy it - I love hunting in Sweden.

quote:

Avoid all offers of a nip of Jaegermeister from a hipflask - it's an evil brew vaguely reminiscent of cough medicine mixed with ethanol...

Adam,

Jaegermeister is Child's Play when put up against Solvi's (Iceland) Black Death.

Gerry, I had a prolonged 'lost weekend' in Iceland many, many years ago whilst visiting an old university friend. I learned that Icelandic young women are best described as 'enthusiastically uninhibited' and that home-distilled spirits, long buried shark flesh and smoked puffin were things to be avoided when drunk or sober...

The aversion to home-distilled spirits was resurrected on a recent hunting trip to Estonia, where we were offered 'fresh whisky' straight from the hunting club's own still.

Before we hijack the OP's thread completely, my other Sweden travel tip is to take your own alcohol, particularly if you like Highland single malts - the price of a round of drinks in a local bar can make a grown man weep tears of blood!

Adam.

Well, depending on how its flavored, some of the local favorite, Aquavit, is tolerable.

I know what you mean about Swedish beverage prices. I understand that the Swedish national pasttime is slipping liquor in from neighboring countries.

I'll be sure to carry an extra pair of long Johns and thick wool socks. For a Texas boy who fights off triple-digit temperatures regularly, sub-arctic weather will be something of a change.

Despite my advancing age I appreciate the observation on Icelandic women as we plan to fly Iceland Air and will change planes in Reykjavik. But our layover is only fifty minutes and I doubt even Icelandic women are that "enthusiastically uninhibited". On the other hand, surely we can avoid "Solvi's Black Death" if we're only there 50 minutes.

Hunting in southern sweden is shorter maybee 1 hour of waiting, the dogs used can be both standing barking(Norwegian elkhuond or similar) or driving like a foxhound. Then its a standing barking dog the game is close to the dog then it barks then its quit be prepared to shoot.

Use a scope with a min magnefing 1-3 or a aimpoint.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Well, depending on how its flavored, some of the local favorite, Aquavit, is tolerable.

I know what you mean about Swedish beverage prices. I understand that the Swedish national pasttime is slipping liquor in from neighboring countries.

I'll be sure to carry an extra pair of long Johns and thick wool socks. For a Texas boy who fights off triple-digit temperatures regularly, sub-arctic weather will be something of a change.

Despite my advancing age I appreciate the observation on Icelandic women as we plan to fly Iceland Air and will change planes in Reykjavik. But our layover is only fifty minutes and I doubt even Icelandic women are that "enthusiastically uninhibited". On the other hand, surely we can avoid "Solvi's Black Death" if we're only there 50 minutes.

Well...50 minutes is only long enough for the first two Icelandic women you meet to have consummated the relationship, for the third one to be 50% of the way through and for the rest to be texting their mates that there's fresh meat in town. Unless the herring boats are in, in which case they'll all be at home with their husbands and boyfriends

Avoiding the Black Death and the leggy blonde ice-maidens is simple - just don't go into a bar, which you won't want to do anyway, as alcohol in Iceland is more expensive than pure Unobtainium (which is probably why they all drink home-distilled gut rot in the first place...). On the other hand, stopping over in Reykjavik for a few beers is a great strategy for making a night out in Sweden look cheap!

If you are stopping over, don't ask for "Solvi's Black Death".
He's a hunting mate who first introduced it to us at one of Kiri's AR hunts.
The stuff is called Brennevin and its a clear dry schnapps type liquor.
Black Death is a brand.
I can't possibly comment on Icelandic girls capabilities since the only girls in the hot tub were German.

quote:

since the only girls in the hot tub were German

Dave,

Brunhilda & Irmgard are permanet fixtures in the Hot Tub ..... they're there to keep the water level high, sorta like balast.

Well she had a fine soprano voice which sent strange vibrations through the water, probably as a result of eating Whale steaks.
I never really understood why Valkyries got so big until then.

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
If you are stopping over, don't ask for "Solvi's Black Death".
He's a hunting mate who first introduced it to us at one of Kiri's AR hunts.
The stuff is called Brennevin and its a clear dry schnapps type liquor.
Black Death is a brand.
I can't possibly comment on Icelandic girls capabilities since the only girls in the hot tub were German.

Yes indeed my liver still bears the scars of the Black Death, (more dangerous than its namesake..)

It is also obligatory to be stood in the aforementioned bar with a giant bowie knife, (one big enough, that you could skin a crocodile with...) and use it to hack off random chunks of smoked goose breast offered on the blade to the local drinkers.

Luckily when performed in Sussex on a friday night, the words "don't worry he's with Kiri's lot...!!" seemed to ease the panic to the point where a couple of locals even had a go at the goose.

K

Where is our resident Icelander?

Steve,

I hunted in southern sweden as a fill in to moose in the west for a couple of days.

Even though it's the south it's still quite wild in places. You may have to walk through bog and quite rough ground to get to your stand ie have good quite high boots and have the ability to add your cold weather clothing after you have walked in.

A stool is a good idea

You may be dropped off at your stand and or have it explained to you. Make sure you are crystal clear about arcs and when you can shoot (ie on drop off or after a radio call etc)

Comms can be an issue. You may get given a radio but a good standby is to buy a swedish PAYG SIM for your mobile. I use Telia in the north - not sure what's best in the south.

The south has very good fallow BUT be crystal clear about what you can shoot. Quite often his lordship reserves the bucks and guests shoot prickets or does. Also ask what the score is for boar which are rife in the South.

Have a great time! I am off for my annual moose hunt in 2 days time

Stonecreek, I think you will have a great time. It sounds like you'll be hunting somewhere between Norrkoping and Stockholm and the are some exceptional estates in that area.

It also sounds like you have been to Sweden before so I will pass on the travel/tourist advice. But to answer the question about phone service, Telia refill cards are available all over Sweden. However, If I'm only going to be there for a week or so (or I forgot to bring my Swedish pay-as-you-go phone) I'll just change my US cell plan for a month. I have AT&T and they have a few different options for that.

It may be very cold, or it could be just above freezing and wet, which in my opinion feels even colder. The point is, don't be so focused on staying warm that you forget about staying dry! Wool gloves are great but bring a waterproof shell as well...

By January they may have shot all the moose on their quota already, depending on the size of their area, so don't get too hung up on moose. The fallow deer (which in my opinion is the tastiest game there is) and the boar, and of course the roe deer are plenty reason to go. And quite frankly a more enjoyable hunt. Hare should also be available that time of year and in that area.

If it is an organized hunt with dogs. Ask the hunt leader to explain to you in English which directions you are allowed to shoot, what the horn signals mean, if they use them, what identifies your stand and if you are allowed to leave it.

You will find that it is rather exciting to follow the hunt from a distance by listening to the dogs. Straining to discern whether they are moving towards you or and waiting for the higher pitch barking Indicating they have contact get closer to you.

If it's just you and a buddy going out on his land, one of my favorite ways of hunting growing up was just going out and picking a set of tracks in the snow. If they are fresh you can follow them without even particularly quiet, as long as you keep your eyes peeled. Roe deer are curious and will eventually do a J-hook to see who is following them. If you blow that opportunity, you're done though...
This hunt is preferably done with a drilling or combination rifle because there may be good opportunites for hare or birds as well.

You will have to pay for a hunting license to Naturvårdsverket. I think you can do that online nowadays, or you can go to the post office and pay there as well.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. If you have any more specific questions, I'll check this thread again.

Thanks all (especially for the warnings/heads up on the proclivities of Icelandic women.)

1894mk2: Be sure to tell us how your hunt went!

Rick: The location is only about 20 minutes west of Norrkoping, not far from the small city of Finspang (I kid my friend that if Sako made an air rifle they would naturally call it "The Finspang".)

I think your advice in thinking not just warm, but dry, is sage. My impression is that the locals hunt moose primarily for meat and are typically looking for calves. I'd much rather take a big, mature fallow stag -- and the little roe are sporty. Of course, as the character in the Australian-set movie Razorback liked to say "There's just something about blastin' the s**t out of a hog that brightens up me whole day".

My understanding is that the hunting is more typically stand and still hunting than running dogs, but either has its charms.

Swedish hunting info

Currently 300K is about $47 US.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Swedish hunting info

Currently 300K is about $47 US.

Yeah, my Swedish friend had to pay $48 for a 5-day non-resident license when he visited me last fall, so I'll still owe him 50 cents.

You should have a lot of fun.

My annual trip was the most successful ever shooting a cow and calf combination, small bull and another calf I think that's 12 years of moose for the average Swedish hunter so I may have some blank years to come!

It will be super fun! The communal / group aspect of hunting in Sweden is a large part of the allure. As stated above, in most cases, the group (or team, literally translated) is hunting for meat or management, rarely trophies (although when taken, they are appreciated).

I would strongly recommend layering your clothing, and ensuring you don't overheat on your way into your stand, which depending, can be >1mile.

Also, do take a stool / chair. Someone from the team should be able to lend you one, or buy one at Harkila (but they're not cheap, ~150 USD for a very good one). Also, depending on what you're informed, don't be bashful about packing a thermos (for coffee or soup) and some snacks (cold sandwiches and some candy always does it for me). If they don't come your way, it could be a long day.

Depending on where and how, you may also be asked to carry a radio - as the team & beaters/dogs can be in constant contact. It'll be in rapid-fire swedish, but its fun to listen to nonetheless

Have a great trip!

1894mk2: That's fantastic. Did you see any fallow, roe, or boar while hunting, or were you concentrating strictly on moose?

Did you take your own rifle or borrow one?

Steve,

We were up North so though I did see a roe they have a hard enough time not to be on the list. Boar and fallow are down south.

I took my own rifle. Your friend applies for you (I would start about 6 weeks beforehand) and it gets sent direct to your home address. When you get to Arlanda you go to special baggage to pick your rifle up. Then you go to customs red channel show the paperwork and allow them to see the serial number. Then you go hunting!

On the way back you just show the paperwork to customs.

It's legal to hunt with a moderator if you have one.

Thanks for the gun importation advice. Your description pretty well follows what I understood. Sounds like it is relatively painless, other than the fact that you need to do it well in advance of your trip.

Too bad that all we Americans (errantly) know about "silencers" is what we see in gangster and spy movies. Sound moderators are simply a civil way to be less disturbing to persons in the vicinity of your hunt.

Yes silencers are growing in popularity. To bring one to Sweden you need a license/permit for it and it must have a number on it.

quote:

I took my own rifle. Your friend applies for you (I would start about 6 weeks beforehand) and it gets sent direct to your home address. When you get to Arlanda you go to special baggage to pick your rifle up. Then you go to customs red channel show the paperwork and allow them to see the serial number. Then you go hunting!

My experience is a little (not too much) different. When I went in 2010, my friend helped me apply, but I contacted the weapon control officer myself. She made it quite clear that despite the deadline for some entry ports in the country being four weeks prior to arrival, in Stockholm, it was an absolute minimum of six weeks.

When I arrived, it happened to be the week when the US had gone on Daylight Savings Time, but Europe had not. So, the flight got in effectively an hour earlier than usual. The bag with the rifle came out on the regular luggage carousel. (The rifle was taken down to fit in a hard case, in the bottom of a large (but standard airline baggage sized) rolling bag, so perhaps that is why.) There was no one in the red zone, so I used the phone there and finally got someone who asked me to just wait another 30 minutes.

I did; I showed him the permit, which had two rifles on it; he asked me if I had brought two; I said "no, just this one" so he crossed off the one I didn't bring and send me on my way with instructions that I should call customs as I was leaving the country. 10 days later, when I got to the airport, I called the number, told them I was going and that was it.

So it is pretty simple, but to be safe, I would try to apply no later than six weeks ahead of time.

Hannay,

Thanks for relating your rifle experience. Now tell us about your 2010 hunt!

Stonecreek,
I'm afraid the story of my hunt will be quite underwhelming - whether by the standards of a normal destination hunt, and (especially?) by the standards of some of the stories above that involve Aquavit, Black Death, and Icelandic women.

But, in short, I have some good friends that live south of Stockholm; one of them had previously asked if I would ever be interested in hunting in Sweden. I said, "Of course", and on that basis, she checked into the possibility of hunting for vildsvin (wild boar) with the local hunting "team." (That is what my friend calls it - a hunting team - to an American visitor, it looks more like a hunting club, except it appears they have a lot more authority and responsibility than a hunting club, but I'm no expert, so I won't try to explain further.) Sure enough, it was possible - they issued me an invitation that allowed me to bring my rifle, and, in due course (early November, 2010), I arrived.

I met up with four members of the hunting team on the weekend, and checked the sights on my rifle. They went over the instructions with me and where I could hunt. I was assigned an "Åtel" - where they had a feeder and also manually spread additional grain on the ground under some old car wheels and tires that the boar could push out of the way. Here's us spreading a little more grain.



It's not really visible in the photo, but they had an LED light on the feeder, so that, we could shoot boars at night. I was not supposed to shoot any sows, especially with piglets. Badgers and fox were allowed; deer, moose, etc. were not. If I shot a boar that ran off, I was supposed to call one of the members with a dog, and he would come out to track the boar. The best times were supposed to be from dusk until however late at night I could stay.

We had a blind to sit in; here's the daytime view of the feeder from the blind:


And the blind itself, which reminded me of some duck blinds I've hunted out of, though this had a non-movable roof:


You will have now noticed the phrase "supposed to" a number of times!
The main problem, from a hunting perspective, was that I didn't have all that much spare time on the trip, so I ended up hunting three evenings, 3-4 hours each time. We heard pigs every night; a couple times something large came near the blind, but despite peering into the dim light for hours each evening, I never saw any boar or badgers or foxes!

So that's the rather underwhelming hunting story. But, I travel to Sweden fairly often, and the same friend that arranged the hunting for me now has her hunting license, so there may be additional opportunities in the not-too-distant future.

I look forward to hearing about your hunt. Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
If you are stopping over, don't ask for "Solvi's Black Death".
He's a hunting mate who first introduced it to us at one of Kiri's AR hunts.
The stuff is called Brennevin and its a clear dry schnapps type liquor.
Black Death is a brand.
I can't possibly comment on Icelandic girls capabilities since the only girls in the hot tub were German.

Yes indeed my liver still bears the scars of the Black Death, (more dangerous than its namesake..)

It is also obligatory to be stood in the aforementioned bar with a giant bowie knife, (one big enough, that you could skin a crocodile with...) and use it to hack off random chunks of smoked goose breast offered on the blade to the local drinkers.

Luckily when performed in Sussex on a friday night, the words "don't worry he's with Kiri's lot...!!" seemed to ease the panic to the point where a couple of locals even had a go at the goose.

K

Where is our resident Icelander?

Last time I heard, a week or so back, He was shooting geese etc in the north of Iceland and thinking perhaps of a trip to Scandinavia to shoot something bigger. I don't think the UK is on the current agenda but who knows what 2014 will bring?