Hunting season begins – important information for hunters and berry pickers near the border
Restrictions concerning the border zone apply to hunters, berry pickers, mushroom pickers and other people moving in the area. Hunting dogs should not be taken close to the national border. Obtain any necessary permits well in advance, if you intend to enter the border zone. Have a safe hunting and berry-picking season!
A border zone has been established along Finland’s eastern border to monitor and maintain border security. On land, the zone can be up to three kilometres wide. Entering the border zone requires a permit obtained in advance.
The Finnish Border Guard wishes to remind hunting parties, berry and mushroom pickers, as well as other people moving in the area that staying and moving within the border zone always requires a permit.
Permits for hunting in the border zone have mainly been granted for moose battues. As a rule, permits are not granted for small-game hunting. Under Finnish law, hunting also includes tracking, driving or flushing game.
Trapping is also considered hunting.
Do not take hunting dogs to the national border
As the hunting season begins, the Finnish Border Guard wishes to remind hunters that hunting in areas close to the national border must be planned with particular care. Handlers of hunting dogs must pay special attention to minimising the risk of dogs entering the border zone or crossing into Russia. Cross-border movements by domestic animals shall, as a general rule, be prevented. Keep your dog on a leash near the border.
The Border Guard therefore urges hunters to avoid letting dogs run free near the border zone, as game animals often flee into Russia and dogs may cross the national border in pursuit of them. If a dog crosses to the other side of the border, contact with the Russian border authorities is required in each individual case. Both countries are committed to ensuring that domestic animals do not cross the border.
Getting hunting dogs back from across the border is not guaranteed. Dogs can return to Finland on their own or with the assistance of the Russian border authorities. In some cases, neither the dogs nor their tracking collars can be recovered and returned to Finland.
Border Guard patrols will take stray dogs found near the national border directly to an animal shelter. All dogs that have been in Russia will be reported to a veterinarian in Finland. The veterinarian will assess on a case-by-case basis whether the dog needs to be examined to prevent the spread of animal diseases. Veterinarians will determine any further measures required.
If a dog owner notices that their dog has gone missing near the national border, they shall contact the Border Guard command centre in the relevant area (see the contact details of the administrative units). Dog owners are also advised to put their contact details on the dog’s collar or harness.
Apply for a border zone permit in advance
Permits for entering and moving within the border zone must be applied for well in advance. Applications for border zone permits should primarily be submitted electronically. A permit can also be applied for at the headquarters of the border guard district responsible for the hunting area or at border guard stations.
The border zone permit must always be carried when moving within the border zone and presented upon request to Border Guard or police authorities. Possession and use of firearms and ammunition in the border zone also requires a permit.
A border zone permit for hunting is granted for a maximum of one hunting season at a time.
Increased monitoring of bear hunting
Monitoring related to bear hunting will be intensified in the Kainuu and Koillismaa regions as of 20 August. The monitoring will be carried out in cooperation with other authorities.
The Finnish Border Guard has launched an online tip service on its web page, where people can report observations concerning cross-border crime, offences against natural resources, environmental offences in maritime areas or preparations for such offences. The tip service is available at https://raja.fi/en/give-a-tip
Permanent information page for hunters
The Finnish Border Guard has a permanent information page for hunters at https://raja.fi/en/instructions-for-hunters. Save the page for future reference.
