The Hunting Consortium | Europe- Scandinavia

SCANDINAVIA

DENMARK, NORWAY, SWEDEN, FINLAND, ICELAND

Scandinavia is the cultural, historical, and ethnic region of northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and by extension, the republics of Finland and Iceland.

The vast territory of this Nordic region stretches from the Baltic Sea to well above the Arctic Circle. It contains vast wilderness areas with virtually no human population and is home to many game species. Since the days of the Vikings, the fiercely independent people of Scandinavia have a long and proud tradition of hunting, which endures to this day.

Tourism is a well developed industry in Scandinavia and this region entertains millions of tourists and outdoor enthusiasts every year.

SWEDEN

The Kingdom of Sweden contains one of the last areas of real wilderness left in Europe. Sweden’s vast northern provinces, known as “Norrland”, are home to the Laps (Sami People) and boast a wide array of northern game species, including: European moose, reindeer, wolf, beaver, fox, and the trophy birds, Capercaillie and black grouse.

For more than 30 years The Hunting Consortium has offered an extensive hunting program in Sweden. Our first representative in Sweden, Horst Kuehne, was one of the most experienced hunt organizers and guides in that country and is also the founder of the Professional Hunter’s Association of Sweden. “ Hoss’ ” vast experience led to the development of several very popular programs, specifically designed for our customers.

The European Moose is the most popular game animal in Sweden and more than 350,000 moose inhabit the country, of which some 80,000 are shot there every year, more than in any other European country. Our guides and their highly trained moose dogs are the best in Sweden for trophy moose hunting.

The European Reindeer boasts the biggest trophy mass, compared to its body weight, of any member of the deer family. In Sweden these hunts are conducted in vast unfenced, free range territory in northern Sweden, known unofficially as “Lapland”, where reindeer roam freely. The hunts are guided by experienced Sami (Laplanders) who own the rights to hunt these animals. Many of the top 10 bulls listed in the SCI Record Book were taken by our clients.

European lynx grow very large in Sweden. These hunts are conducted using dogs to track and tree the lynx in deep snow, much like cougars are hunted in North America.

Hunting for the trophy birds, Capercaillie and black grouse, is also very popular and populations for both of these species are very high.

NORWAY

Rougher and even wilder than Sweden, Norway is not as popular a destination for international hunters. Licenses for reindeer are had by a national drawing, making hunts less than certain for traveling sportsmen. The infrastructure in northern Norway is also less developed than in neighboring Sweden, making travel more difficult and the hunting industry is not as well developed.

The above notwithstanding, we offer selected special hunts in Norway, upon request.

FINLAND

Finland is a land of vast forests and lakes, bordered by Sweden to the West, and Russia to the East. Finland is slightly larger than Germany and is, with 5.4 million people, the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Most of that population lives in the southern regions near the capital, Helsinki. It has the largest forested area (86 % of Finland’s area) in all of Europe.

In addition to native species such as moose and reindeer, Finland also offers hunting for white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer were introduced in southwestern Finland in 1934 and have expanded their range dynamically in the last two decades. More than 20,000 white-tailed deer are now taken annually by residents and foreign sportsmen alike. The Hunting Consortium is proud to offer exclusive hunts for white-tailed deer on selected private hunting leases in southwestern Finland.

Finland is also the best country in which to hunt the unusual raccoon dog, an immigrant from East Asia. This species was introduced in 1948, in nearby Latvia, and has now spread throughout the Baltic region and into Finland and Sweden. In recent years, as many as 60,000 are harvested in Finland each year. The raccoon dog is currently offered as an additional trophy during the white-tailed deer hunt.

ICELAND

The remote island nation of Iceland - the land of fire and ice, is perhaps the most unusual destination for traveling hunters looking for a Nordic adventure. Home to hundreds of volcanoes and some 30 active volcanic systems, Iceland is still geologically active and suffers many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. On the positive side, geysers and hot springs provide geothermal energy to power most homes on the island. Roughly 10% of the island is covered by glaciers. Arable land is limited and the once dense forests have been largely destroyed by man.

Reindeer are the only game species of interest on Iceland. Trophies of modest size are available.

Scandinavian Species List:

European Moose

European Reindeer

European Red Deer

European Fallow Deer

European Roe Deer

Wild boar

Lynx

Wolverine

Capercaillie

Black Cock

Exotic Species List

Whitetail deer

Raccoon Dog

"5 Stars" The Hunting Consortium is the premiere hunting/travel consultant in the world today. I've done more than a dozen hunts with THC and they never fall short. I can't recommend Bob Kern and his efficient crew highly enough.
-J.Y. Jones