Hunters in Lieksa disappointed as bear hunt postponed due to legal challenges in Finland

Hunters in Lieksa, North Karelia, are disappointed as the bear hunt scheduled for next week cannot proceed as planned. The Nature Conservation Association Tapiola Karelia has filed a complaint regarding the hunting permits to the Administrative Court of Eastern Finland, which has put a hold on the permits.

“We are living with this situation. We are waiting for documents from the Administrative Court. We will review them and see where the misinterpretation occurred,” said Yrjö Eronen, the contact person for the bear hunt in Lieksa.

The Finnish Wildlife Agency had granted permission to hunt a total of ten bears in Lieksa this summer, while other applications were rejected elsewhere. Hunting bears is still possible in reindeer herding areas, where it is conducted under a quota system regulated by the ministry.

Eronen emphasized that the application specifically aimed to target bears moving near populated areas in Lieksa, while also increasing their wariness of humans. “To put it bluntly, bears used to be hunted in remote areas, but now they are pursued near villages,” Eronen explained.

However, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled last year that regulating bear populations alone is insufficient justification for hunting bears protected under the EU Nature Directive; more substantial reasons, including damage caused by bears, need to be provided.

There are also four appeals regarding permit refusals from the Wildlife Agency, filed in Kuhmo, Pieksämäki, Southeast Finland, and Ilomantsi. The Hunters’ Federation is involved in the appeal from Ilomantsi and is seeking clarity in decision-making.

“This complex issue cannot be managed under such flimsy legislation. Shifting the responsibility for justification onto hunters is an unsustainable solution,” stated Jaakko Silpola, Executive Director of the Hunters’ Federation.

The Wildlife Agency concurs that the law is open to interpretation, with Sauli Härkönen noting that issues tied to the Nature Directive are often susceptible to challenge.

If a decision is reached, hunters in Lieksa are prepared to head out immediately. “Even if it comes on the last day of October, if the decisions and permits are legal, we will go hunting,” Eronen affirmed.