Small game and roe deer hunting, 2002/2003

Preliminary figures show that a total of 784 000 animals were felled during the hunting year 2002/03. A number of 95 100 persons took part in small game hunting. For more information, see active hunters

Successful grouse hunt in Finnmark

The grouse is the most felled small game in Norway. On average, 500 000 grouses were felled every year in the period 1971-2003. Most grouses were felled in Finnmark in the hunting year 2002/03. In this county the hunters felled 75 000 grouses, an increase of 26 000 from the previous hunting year. The high yield in Finnmark is mostly caused by the increased yield of willow ptarmigan. In the hunting year 2001/02 Nordland county heads the lists with 108 000 felled grouses, but in 2002/03 the yield was 66 000 grouses. Compared with the previous hunting year in Nordland and Nord-Trøndelag the yield from the grouse hunt declined by 39 and 35 per cent, respectively.

Considerable decrease of ptarmigans

Most of the reduction on the national level is caused by less yield of ptarmigan grouses. A total of 153 000 ptarmigans were felled in 2002/03, a reduction of 25 per cent from the previous hunting year. The hunters felled 261 000 willow ptarmigans, a decrease of 7 per cent from 2001/02.

In 2002/03, 70 per cent of the grouses were felled in the five northernmost counties. The corresponding part was 72 per cent in 2001/02 and 77 per cent in 2000/01.

Small increase for roe deers

In the autumn 2002 a total of 30 500 roe deers were felled. This is an increase of 1 600 animals from the previous autumn. Most roe deers were felled in Østfold county. A total of 4 200 animals were felled in this county. In Aust Agder and Vest Agder counties 3 300 and 3 400 roe deers were felled. 36 900 hunters hunted roe deers, and 15 200 had yields from the hunt.

Capercaillie and black grouse

Capercaillie is one of the most popular small game species. A total of 10 100 capercaillies and 27 300 black grouses were felled in the hunting year 2002/03.

Ducks and geese

The hunters felled 25 100 mallards and 9 400 greylag geese.

Tables:

• Table 1 Small game hunting. Number of grouses felled, by county. 2001/02-2002/03.
• Table 2 Estimated yield of roe deer hunting and small game hunting. 1995/96-2002/03. Number of animals felled