An inspection of reindeer hunting grounds last year revealed that almost half of the hunters did not have all of their necessary documentation when asked to produce it for inspectors, RÚV reports. Reindeer hunters must carry their hunting permit and firearm permit with them at all times when hunting.
In order to legally hunt reindeer in Iceland, a prospective hunter must apply for a special license. First, however, the individual needs to pass both a hunting class and a training course on firearms. There is a written test in the hunting class; applicants must answer at least 75% of the questions correctly in order to pass. An average of 15% of applicants do not pass the test on their first attempt. Those who do pass must carry their hunting permit and firearm permit with them at all times when hunting reindeer.
The Environment Agency of Iceland has appointed an inspector to patrol reindeer hunting grounds. 41 guides and 131 hunters were questioned during last year’s summer inspection. 53% of those hunters surveyed met all of the requirements to be hunting; 64% of guides met the necessary requirements to be acting in that role. These are lower percentages for compliance than in 2016, when 58% of hunters questioned had all their required documentation. According to the report from the Environment Agency, hunters needed to be more attentive to the fact that they must carry their permits with them, whether in hard copy or electronic form.
The reindeer quota was set at 1,315 animals last year, with a total of 1,305 actually hunted.
