Escape the heat and find yourself face to face against a capercaillie, a mountain grouse, ptarmigan or arctic hare. No, it is not a dream, but the reality that every hunter can live by organizing their hunting trip to discover Swedish Lapland.
Organizing a hunting trip away from the Mediterranean heat, especially in these summer months, can only excite the fantasies of fans. The destination we will talk about today is not only distant, but above all fresh and will give the feeling to anyone who is there, of being immersed in the middle of an incredible naturalistic documentary.
In fact, Swedish Lapland offers unspoiled environments and rarely reached by tourists with a passion for hunting. The abundance of feathered game is one of the reasons that most encourage the trip, mainly due to the interest of local hunters in large ungulates.
The result is a notable abundance of ptarmigan both in the Nordic and Arctic varieties, the black grouse, the capercaillie and the black grouse, without forgetting the presence of the Arctic hare and in much rarer cases of woodcocks.
The experience is one that is not so easily forgotten, given that an appetizing challenge is re-proposed and all the more intriguing as it is hard, between man and animals that blend well with fairytale landscapes and scenarios.
The hunt takes place in most cases in the forest, in environments rich in conifers and birches, with a characteristic undergrowth of junipers, dwarf birches and blueberries. The large clearings common in the tundra are flanked by marshy habitats located on mainly flat or hilly areas. Here you can probably meet Nordic partridges, francolins, grouse, black grouse and arctic hares. The progress of the hunt will depend solely on your skills and the good feeling you will show with your dogs.
To anyone wishing to live a hunting experience of this type, we recommend that you rely on one of the numerous agencies operating in the sector, which will organize the trip and the annoying details of the accommodation in the minimum terms. The lucky ones will be able to stay in huts and chalets a few kilometers from the hunting areas, normally between the area of Kiruna and Gällivare. Pampered by the forest, with suggestive landscapes, saunas and all kinds of services available, the hunting experience will turn into a pleasant opportunity for regenerating relaxation.
However, you can opt for accommodation in a lodge or for the more classic overnight stay in a hotel.
Normally you will be accompanied by expert guides who know the territory and the Italian or English language well, who will guide you along the right paths and put you face to face with the game. It will then be up to you to demonstrate your skills as a good hunter during a hunting itinerary that certainly can only help you refine your technique and experience.
The hunting period is between the 25th of August and the 25th of October unless different and last minute provisions proposed by the Swedish authorities. Temperatures during these months are between 12 ° C and -5 ° C.
The necessary documents that the hunter must present are the European firearms pass, hunting insurance, firearms license, hunting license and clearly identity card valid for expatriation. The dog must instead have a European passport with anti-rabies vaccination, titration of neutralizing antibodies, treatment against tapeworms performed in the 10 days prior to arrival in Sweden, anti-tick treatment and certificate of Good Health issued by their veterinarian.
Having said that, I just have to wish you a good trip.