Hunting license and permits

[Alex.Sm]

Hi,
I would like to know what license and permits you need to become a hunter.

I mean first I need to buy a rifle, need permit for that, what license, exams I have to do/take?

Then when you have a rifle you need hunting permit, exams to pass and so on and you have to be in some hunting group I guess?

Kiitos!

[DMC]

I have very little knowledge of this but I believe it depends what you want to hunt. To go after elk I think you need to be in a club, but hunting for rabbit or something like that may be an individual occupation. Maybe you would get a better answer if you say what you want to hunt.

[kharnynb]

For hunting in general:
-first you need a rifle license from the police.
-Second you need to do a shooting skill test.

Then.
Hunting license, either from a private org(hunting trip organisers) or metsahallinto.

Moose is seperately done, mostly the permits go to hunting clubs. Getting into a club is HARD, and usually requires landownership.

[Karhunkoski]

A good start is here:

http://riista.fi/metsastys/haluatko-metsastajaksi/

Don't bother trying the English pages, they're not the same as the Finnish ones.

1. Pass the hunting diploma exam (was available in Finnish & Swedish only, but I don't know about nowadays). If you are new to hunting and/or guns, then go on one of the courses to learn. On the link above, you can search for course/exam details local to you. Also read this book:

http://www.suomalainen.com/webapp/wcs/s ... 3godiF8A1A

2. Once you have passed your exam, pay the invoice and get you hunting card.

3. Go to police station and fill in the forms to apply for an acquisition permit (72€). Make sure you know what you are going to hunt and select a rifle and calibre to suit it. Suggest you also apply for a second permit (about 27€ if done at the same time as the first one) for a .22 rifle. This is much cheaper to shoot and the more you practice, the better you will be. The fundamentals of marksmanship are the same. The extra practice results in less chance of wounding game and will bring you more respect from other shooters/hunters.

4. Jump through whatever other hoops the police ask you to and hopefully collect your permit a couple of weeks later. You have six months to buy the rifles. Once bought, take them to your local police station to "show" them to the firearms officer. He will record the serial numbers in their log. Make sure you don't do anything silly, e.g. make sure your transport your rifle unloaded and in its case/bag.

5. Find somewhere to hunt. Small game can be hunted on state land, with the correct licence. From here: http://www.eraluvat.fi/ Grouse are a good choice when in season, and can be hunted with a rifle. Or for larger game, join a hunting club (most often you need to own land). For moose/bear, you need to do a shooting test every 3 years. It's stupidly easy nowadays.

6. Enjoy your hunting. It is one of life's real pleasures and remember it's more insects, weather, excercise and woodsmoke, that it is shooting

[Rosamunda]

1. Pass the hunting diploma exam (was available in Finnish & Swedish only, but I don't know about nowadays).

My kids took it fairly recently and it was still in Finnish but you could take in your own personal translator.

[Alex.Sm]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

I still have some questions: Let's assume I will get the license from police and the hunting license so all I need to do is buy the rifle and I thought about this: Tikka T3 TAC: http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?tac_showdata Is this accepted as a hunting rifle?

Is there anywhere in Helsinki a shooting club where you can go and practice?

Kiitos!

[Karhunkoski]

Tikka T3 TAC: http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?tac_showdata Is this accepted as a hunting rifle?

Yes, of course. Bolt actions are pretty much always ok. Some semi-autos too, but not hi-cap magazines.

The Tikka is not a bad rifle, consider also Sako85 (a tad more expensive) and the CZ550 (more traditional, similar price to Tikka). Tikka plastic stocks are very hollow sounding a pretty poor quality. Main thing is that the rifle fits you. The adjustable comb on that rifle will help here. The Tikka butt pad is also easy to replace if you need to increase LOP (the Sako85 is possible but is a massive job, two big steels rods need grinding out first )

[Alex.Sm]

Tikka T3 TAC: http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?tac_showdata Is this accepted as a hunting rifle?

Yes, of course. Bolt actions are pretty much always ok. Some semi-autos too, but not hi-cap magazines.

The Tikka is not a bad rifle, consider also Sako85 (a tad more expensive) and the CZ550 (more traditional, similar price to Tikka). Tikka plastic stocks are very hollow sounding a pretty poor quality. Main thing is that the rifle fits you. The adjustable comb on that rifle will help here. The Tikka butt pad is also easy to replace if you need to increase LOP (the Sako85 is possible but is a massive job, two big steels rods need grinding out first )

Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea what is the policy of buying knives? I mean if I order a knife from US for example (I didn't found it in Finland) in what category is that? I mean am I allowed to order it or not?

And one more thing ... let's assume one more time I get all needed licenses ... where can I buy the rifle from? Can I buy it from example from US? What will be the conditions then? Do I have to do something special except paying for it? Does the seller (in US) is interested in my license? Do I have to go and pick it from customs, they will ask me the license? How is the process? Thanks!

[Upphew]

Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea what is the policy of buying knives? I mean if I order a knife from US for example (I didn't found it in Finland) in what category is that? I mean am I allowed to order it or not?

You buy knife. Done. Stilettos are illegal. Assisted opening folders are apparently legal. But teraasekeskus.com seems to have gotten into a fight with police about definitions and they have gotten quite a different view from police... in fact my last order from US would have been regarded as stiletto by that definiton: http://www.crkt.com/Graham (possible to be opened by one hand quicky, check; clip to hang it in sleeve, double check!)

And one more thing ... let's assume one more time I get all needed licenses ... where can I buy the rifle from? Can I buy it from example from US? What will be the conditions then? Do I have to do something special except paying for it? Does the seller (in US) is interested in my license? Do I have to go and pick it from customs, they will ask me the license? How is the process? Thanks!

You need buying permit for it, import permit, VAT, customs and then carry permit. Unless you are going to some really exotic then it is likely you'll find something similar here. Just google asekauppa.

[Karhunkoski]

Fully agree with Upphew, it's just not worth the hassle. Finland is home to one of the best off-the-shelf rifles manufacturers in the world. Add in SigSauer/Blazer and CZ, and you get more rifle for your money than any of the cheap American offerings.

In my opinion, lots of the well known American brands no longer offer the quality they used to. They've cut corners to reduce cost and maximise profit, relying on the old brand reputation gained in years gone by. E.g. Bushmaster ARs are pants now, after Remington took over. The new 870 express is cheap rubbish and don't get me started on Remington rimfire ammo, dirty stuff that clogs gun after a coupla hundred rounds.

But there are still some decent (smaller) manufacturers.What rifle were you thinking of ordering from stateside?

[Alex.Sm]

What rifle were you thinking of ordering from stateside?

Well if I get all licenses I'm thinking to buy the Finnish one: Tikka T3 Tactical .308 win and of course I will buy then from here. I just wanted to know what is the process if one want's to buy it from abroad but it seams it's not worth it.

But I kinda decided my mind about the tikka t3 tactical and maybe a good scope and good to go ...

[Alex.Sm]

And questions are still coming ...

On poliisi.fi website http://poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/page ... endocument is stated:

A firearm acquisition permit may be granted only if it is to be acquired for an approved purpose.
Approved purposes of use are:
- shooting of animals as permitted by hunting legislation
- shooting competitions and other target shooting
- work in which a firearm is necessary
- demonstration, filming or other similar presentation
- keeping in a museum or collection
- keeping as a memento
- signalling
- storing and transport

can one apply for a permit for this purpose "shooting competitions and other target shooting" just for shooting practice, you know as a hobby, every now and then you go to a shooting field and practice (no competitions) just hobby ?

If yes, and if you get a permit for this purpose, can you later on go and get the hunting permit ? If yes, do you have to go to police and apply again for first purpose "shooting of animals as permitted by hunting legislation" ?

[Karhunkoski]

If you get the rifle, you can do the hunting exam later and then use the rifle for hunting, even if you originally got the rifle for a different reason.

You can apply based on target shooting as a hobby, but you should join a shooting club

[Upphew]

If you do it as a hobby, then expect a lot of questions and probably denied application for .308 as 1st gun.

[cors187]

I guess immigrants need to have permanent residing Address,finnish ID to start the process?