Red deer hunting, 2005, preliminary figures

Except for a couple of periods with stagnation, there has been an increase in the felling of red deer in Norway since the early 1950's. The largest increase has, however, occurred in recent years, and in the period 1991-2005 the yield increased by an average of 1 100 animals every year.

A total felling quota of 40 500 animals were allocated for the red deer hunting in 2005, of which 68 per cent were felled. Totally 6 400 calves, 8 600 younger animals (1 ½ years of age) and 12 600 older animals were felled in the autumn of 2005.

Most red deer felled in Western Norway

Even if red deer hunting has spread to other regions of the country, roughly 95 per cent of the total fellings are concentrated to five counties along the Atlantic Coast: Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Møre og Romsdal og Sør-Trøndelag.

Regarding the number of hunting licenses and number of animals felled, Sogn og Fjordane is still the largest "red deer county". Nearly 1one third of all red deer shot inn 2005 were felled in Sogn og Fjordane. Totally, 12 100 permissions were issued, and 9 000 animals were felled.

Number of deer hunters

A total of 31 000 hunters took part in red deer hunting in the autumn 2004. See the statistics on hunters for more details.

Tables:

• Table 1 Red deer hunting, by county. 2004 and 2005*
• Table 2 Red deer hunting. Animals felled, by age, sex and county*