Just over 2,400 applications were filed for the hunting of 665 reindeer this hunting season, East Iceland news service Austurfrétt reports, with tighter controls put in place to preserve the population.
Late arrivals
Reindeer are not native to Iceland, but were imported–primarily from Norway–during the 1700s. The typically confine themselves to the northeastern portion of Iceland, descending closer to the shoreline in the summertime.
Today, there are estimated to be around 4100 reindeer in the whole country, but this is down from just over 6,000 in 2014, leading to concerns from environmentalists and hunters alike about the declining reindeer population.
Numerous caveats
This year, only 665 reindeer are permitted to be hunted–400 bulls and 265 cows–down from 800 the year previous.
In addition, the hunting season will only last from July 15 to August 1 for bulls, provided they are not in the company of one or more cows, and the hunt must not disturb cows or calves who are grazing. The season for hunting cows will last from August 1 to September 20, but hunters must avoid killing milking cows.
The permit fee has also increased from last year, by about 20%. Hunters must now pay 231,000 ISK per bull, or 132,000 ISK per cow.
