Big-game hunting

Big-game hunting is the most complex form of Norwegian hunting. It covers moose, red deer, fallow deer, wild reindeer, roe deer, wild boar, mouflon, musk ox, and the four large carnivores (bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx). Each species has its own regulations, hunting areas and competence requirements. What they all share is that big-game hunting requires a passed annual shooting test — 30 compulsory practice shots and 5 figure shots — and, as a rule, taking part in an organised jaktlag.

Today big-game hunting is central to the Norwegian hunting tradition, particularly in Innlandet (the moose mecca), Trøndelag (varied), and Western Norway (where red deer have grown dramatically). 26,400 moose were taken in 2024–2025, while red deer now have a larger harvest nationally — Vestland county alone took 35,191 red deer in the same year. The roe deer population is stable or slightly increasing, with around 30,000 taken annually.

For anyone who has passed jegerprøven and wants to go further with hunting, big game is the next step. It is qualitatively different from small-game hunting — different firearms, different competence requirements, and a quite different social structure through the jaktlag.

What big-game hunting covers

Forskrift om utøvelse av jakt (2002-03-22 nr. 313) § 17 lists the big-game species:

Deer family:

Moose — the classic Norwegian big-game species. Its main territory is in Innlandet and Trøndelag.
Red deer — grown dramatically in Western Norway since the 1990s. Now a larger harvest than moose.
Fallow deer — rare, primarily in Southern Norway
Wild reindeer — Norway has over 90 per cent of Europe’s wild reindeer. Classified as near threatened on the 2021 Red List. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) detected on Hardangervidda in 2020.
Roe deer — widespread across all of Southern Norway

Other large animals:

Wild boar — established population in Østfold, spreading northwards
Mouflon — rare, primarily in Hordaland
Musk ox — only on Dovre, a protected population with limited hunting

Large carnivores (bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx):

Bear — licensed culling (lisensfelling) 21 August–15 October outside sheep-priority areas. 191 different brown bears detected in 2024.
Wolf — licensed culling (lisensfelling) both inside and outside the wolf zone (ulvesonen). 59–66 wolves detected in 2024–2025.
Wolverine — licensed culling (lisensfelling). Population target 39 litters/year.
Lynx — quota hunting (kvotejakt) 1 February–31 March. Population target 65 litters/year.

Each species has its own open seasons, areas and quotas. Miljødirektoratet’s open-season guide is the authoritative source.

Competence requirements beyond jegerprøven

Big-game hunting requires skills beyond a passed jegerprøve:

Annual shooting test (forskrift 2002-03-22 § 6) — 30 compulsory practice shots spread over at least two days, plus 5 figure shots at an animal figure where all 5 hit within a marked 30 cm circle. The practice shots cannot be fired on the same day. The shooting test is valid for one hunting year and must be renewed each year.

Firearm requirements — the rifle must be of the correct calibre and dimension for the species. For moose, red deer and bear the minimum calibre is typically .30-06 or equivalent; for wild reindeer and roe deer smaller calibres are accepted.

Tracking dog (ettersøkshund) — when hunting moose, red deer and roe deer, the jaktlag must have access to an approved tracking dog. The duty is set in law (viltloven § 26 nr. 3).

Big-game test (storviltprøve) — for young people who wish to take part in supervised big-game hunting from the year they turn 16.

For anyone wanting to extend to big game: sign up for the annual shooting-test course through NJFF or a local hunting association. Many jaktlag are strict about new members having the shooting test in order before their first hunt.

Big-game hunting is almost always a group activity. A classic jaktlag for moose has 5–10 people who hunt the same area year after year. The structure is established:

Hunting leader (jaktleder) — chiefly responsible for safety, quota and coordination
Shooter on stand — stands still in the terrain at established positions
Beater with dog — drives the game towards the stands
Butcher / meat handling — handles the kill, dressing and distribution

The jaktlag as a rule holds hunting rights to a particular area (private or Statskog), and membership is often hereditary or tied to local belonging. New members are admitted after thorough assessment.

For anyone new to big game: join a local NJFF association and ask about jaktlag that take in new members. It can take years to get a place in an established team, but smaller teams or newly started teams often admit newcomers more easily.

For anyone with their own hunting rights: you can organise your own jaktlag, but it requires access to a tracking dog and coordination with neighbours to ensure that game is not wounded across the boundary.

Where in Norway

Big-game hunting is distributed geographically:

Moose hunting has its core in Innlandet (7,427 taken in 2024–2025) and Trøndelag (5,627 taken). Trysil, Engerdal and Rendalen are classic moose municipalities. Nordland and parts of Troms also have a significant moose population.

Red deer hunting is Western Norway’s main form. 35,191 red deer taken in Vestland in 2024–2025 — a record. The population has grown dramatically over the last 30 years; 92 municipalities granted quota-free calf hunting in 2024–2025 because of large populations. The harvest is now larger than moose nationally.

Roe deer hunting is strongest in Sørlandet and Østlandet. Agder took 4,960 roe deer in 2022, Viken 9,710. Vestfold/Telemark and Trøndelag also significant.

Wild reindeer hunting follows the 10 national wild-reindeer areas. Hardangervidda has around 10,000 animals and is the largest area. Chronic wasting disease and population challenges have meant that several areas have a red light in their management — Hardangervidda, Setesdal Vestheien, Nordfjella.

Large-carnivore hunting is concentrated in particular areas. Bear hunting: Innlandet, Trøndelag, Northern Norway. Wolf hunting: the wolf zone in Innlandet, Akershus, Østfold (inside) and the rest of the country (outside the zone).

Classic progression — where you begin

For anyone wanting to build up from small-game hunting:

Roe deer is often the first big game. Less formal structure than moose hunting, can be hunted alone or in smaller groups, longer season (10 August–23 December).
Red deer as the next — in Western Norway the population is large and the season is longer, and quota-free calf hunting in several municipalities lowers the threshold.
Moose as a rule requires jaktlag membership. Traditional Norwegian big-game hunting with fixed social structures.
Wild reindeer for those who have built up experience and want to hunt in large mountain areas. Requires a local quota and knowledge of the area.
Large carnivores for the most experienced. Licensed cullings and quota hunting. Politically and culturally charged.

Each species has its own culture. Moose hunting in Innlandet is different from red deer hunting in Sogn is different from roe deer hunting in Telemark. Learn the local culture before you plan.

Firearms and ammunition

Stricter firearm requirements apply to big-game hunting:

Rifle — the only permitted firearm for big game (not a shotgun). Classic calibres:

.308 Winchester or .30-06 — all-round for moose, red deer, bear
.270 Winchester — popular for red deer
.243 Winchester — calibre for roe deer, wild reindeer
.300 Win Mag — for longer distances, bear
Larger magnums — rare, mostly for special situations

Ammunition — expanding bullets are mandatory. The regulations require a specific bullet type that expands on impact to ensure a quick kill.

Sight — a telescopic sight is standard for big game. Demanding on quality and calibration.

For anyone new: a local NJFF association or hunting shop gives guidance on calibre and firearm choice based on which species you primarily intend to hunt.

Safety

Big-game safety is stricter than small game because the consequences of error are greater:

Shot identification — you must be able to see the game clearly, identify the species and sex, and see the background before shooting. Never shoot at sound or movement alone.

Shot background — bullets can travel over 1 km. Know what is behind the game.

Stand positioning — on a driven hunt the stands are placed so that lines of fire do not cross each other or areas with people. Follow the hunting leader’s instructions.

Communication in the field — radio or mobile phone for contact between stands. Know where others in the team are.

Tracking of wounded game — if the game does not fall immediately or is lost after a shot, the law requires that tracking is carried out. Tracking of wounded game goes through what it involves.

First aid — pack comprehensive first-aid equipment including a compression bandage. Hunting accidents are rare but can be serious.

Statistically, big-game hunting accidents occur roughly every other year, and the Dødsårsaksregisteret 2016–2020 recorded no deaths from hunting accidents in that period — despite a significant increase in the number of hunters. Better training and safety culture compensate for the increased exposure.

Ethics and animal welfare

Big-game hunting has ethical challenges that are central to Norwegian hunting culture:

Wounding (skadeskyting) is the largest animal-welfare problem. Hence the strict requirements for the annual shooting test and expanding ammunition.

Tracking dog (ettersøkshund) is not optional — it is set in law for moose, red deer and roe deer. A jaktlag without access to a tracking dog cannot hunt legally.

Bleeding out and dressing must take place quickly after the kill. Classic Norwegian practice: the animal should be cut and bled out within 30 minutes of the shot.

Family bonds — Rådet for dyreetikk recommends that consideration be given to mother–young relationships. Do not shoot the calf before the mother; consider the consequences of taking the mother together with the calf.

Population management — hunters contribute to data collection (sett-elg, sett-hjort) that forms the basis for public management. It is a part of the hunting culture that has been built over generations.

Hunting ethics and animal welfare goes through ethical principles in more detail.

Next steps

If big-game hunting is new to you: pass the shooting test for the current year, and join a local NJFF association to find a jaktlag that admits newcomers.

If you are a member of a jaktlag and want to go further: build skill in tracking and dog work. Many jaktlag need new tracking dogs, and it is a specialisation built up over years.

For anyone wanting to extend to large-carnivore hunting: licensed culling of bear and wolf requires extra competence and local knowledge. Local hunting associations in the wolf zone and bear-relevant areas are the way in.

For a specific species focus: moose hunting goes through the classic Norwegian big-game variant. Large-carnivore management takes up large-carnivore hunting as a political and ecological phenomenon.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).