People are moving into the woods!

This week, thousands of Norwegians move into the woods. Moose hunting season is on! Some live in lavvus, others in primitive cabins, and a few go home for the night, but common for them all is that they spend all day in the woods looking for the mighty moose. Often the whole family joins the hunt – even small children. Phones off and away we go!

Traditions

For large parts of the local community of the Bardufoss Region, the moose hunting season is the highlight of the year. A break from the daily life spent with family and friends, with traditions deep rooted in our culture. Moose hunting season starts on September 25th and lasts until Christmas.

Ever since the moose entered the Arctic forests around 9000 year ago, it has been an important nutrition source for the inhabitants, illustrated by cave paintings and rock art from the Stone Age. There has even been found moose antlers dated back to 6000 BC. Even if the numbers are uncertain, it is assumed that the European moose population counts around one million animals, and almost all of them roam the forests of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Organization

In the modern ages moose hunting is very well organized, with permissions issued by the government. In an area, the number and type of moose available for hunting is set by the government based on research. A well managed moose population is key for health and sustailability, and by hunting the wild moose in the Bardufoss Region we make sure our moose population stays healthy and has enough food to thrive in the harsh wintertime. The moose hunting is most often organized so that neighbors and land owners go together and apply for a permission. Depending on the size of the total land and the size of the moose population, the hunting party is assigned specific animals (age, gender) to take out. In addition, the Norwegian State owns land one can apply to go moose hunting on. This makes moose hunting available for everyone – not just land owners. All moose hunters in Norway must pass an official shooting test every year with the gun they’re going hunting with to be allowed to shoot moose.

Expectations

The fall is exceptionally colorful in the Arctic forests. Red and yellow leaves on the trees, the crisp fall air. The first snowfall of the season may even come as early as September. The hunting parties have been preparing for months already. Equipment and clothing is well adapted Arctic climate and wilderness. Binoculars, map, compass, GPS and walkie-talkie – the essentials. The elders teach the younger generations all they need to know about the moose, hunting, and how to survive the wilderness. Back in the camp the children play outside the tents in the darkness whilst the grown-ups cook dinner. They all gather around the table for a warm meal and to plan tomorrow’s hunt. The next they they are all up before dawn, and soon they will be spread around the Arctic forest.

The Viking Dog

All hunting parties are required to have a tracking dog at their disposal. In case of a wounded animal, the hunting party must immediately start searching. The most popular breed of tracking dogs is by far the Norwegian Elkhound, closely related to the Swedish Jämthund. The Norwegian Elkhound is known as early as the Viking ages! Its importance to their Viking owners is shown through their burying rituals: they were buried together. Over a millennium later, the Viking Dog is still very valuable for Norwegians, both as hunting partner and family dog.

The important moose meat

A large part of households in the Bardufoss Region has a freezer filled with moose meat. When shot in the wilderness, the body has to be transported back to the community for the meat to be taken care of. This can be a very heavy and meticulous process! The meat is distributed between hunters and land owners, and in so many homes the moose meat is part of the everyday cooking. Moose meat has a mild and attractive game flavor, perfect in game stews or as a medium rare roast with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.