Small-game hunting

Small-game hunting is the most common way into Norwegian hunting. It is the form with the lowest competence threshold — you need jegerprøven (the hunting proficiency test) and the hunting licence fee (jegeravgift), but not the annual marksmanship test as in big-game hunting — and it lets you hunt alone or in smaller groups without depending on an organised jaktlag (hunting team). The figures from Statistics Norway (SSB) cover 36 small-game species plus roe deer; of these, ptarmigan, hare and woodland grouse are the most classic.

Geographically, small-game hunting is spread across the whole country, but its strongest tradition is in Northern Norway and the mountain districts. Ptarmigan hunting in Troms, Finnmark and Nordland has a season that runs until 15 March — the longest in the country. Woodland-grouse hunting in Innlandet, Trøndelag and Nordland follows the capercaillie leks and demands quiet movement and local knowledge. Hare hunting takes place across the whole country, often with a driving hound.

For someone new to hunting, small game is the right place to start. You build skill in safe firearm handling, accuracy on the range, and experience in reading nature, without the added complexity of big-game hunting with a hunting team and a tracking dog.

What it actually covers

Small-game hunting covers:

Ptarmigan — willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan. The most important species for small-game hunting in Norway. Both are red-listed, and the populations swing with rodent years. The hunting take has fallen from around 650,000 a year in the 1980s to typically under 200,000 after 2010 — the 2021–2022 season took 159,300 ptarmigan.

Hare — mainly the mountain hare (skogshare/fjellhare, Lepus timidus); the European hare is an introduced species confined to the south-east. Classic driven hunting with a hound.

Woodland grouse — capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse. Requires quiet movement and local knowledge of the leks. Populations have fallen dramatically in parts of the country — in Nordland (Rana/Hemnes), around 50 per cent of known leks disappeared between 1984 and 2024.

Ducks — red-breasted merganser, goldeneye, tufted duck, mallard. Sea-fowl hunting from boat or shore. The common eider has been closed to hunting since 2022.

Furbearers — mink, fox, stoat, pine marten, badger. Often hunted for fur or for population control.

Others — rabbit, gulls (certain species), raven (certain areas), rook, woodpigeon.

Each species has its own open seasons regulated by the Norwegian Environment Agency’s (Miljødirektoratet) hunting-seasons regulation (jakttidsforskrift). Classic periods:

Ptarmigan and hare — 10 September to 28/29 February (rest of the country); to 15 March in Troms, Finnmark and parts of Nordland
Woodland grouse (capercaillie/black grouse) — 10 September to 23 December
Sea fowl — varies by species, often 1 September to the end of November or December

Always check the Norwegian Environment Agency’s hunting-seasons guide before the start of the season.

Rifle vs. shotgun

Small-game hunting can be carried out with both rifle and shotgun, and the choice depends on the species, the terrain and the range:

The shotgun is the usual weapon for most small-game hunting. It fires small shot pellets in a cone-shaped cloud that covers a larger area. Effective at 25–40 metres on birds in flight. It requires less accuracy than a rifle but more shooting technique on a moving target.

Classic calibre: 12-gauge for most situations
20-gauge for shorter ranges or smaller game
Shot size: 6–7 for woodland grouse and ptarmigan, 4–5 for hare

The rifle is used at longer ranges or when precision is critical. It fires a single bullet. Effective at 100–300 metres for larger small game. It requires better accuracy and predictable ammunition.

Calibre: .22LR for small game at short ranges, .222 or .223 for larger small game at longer ranges

For someone new, the shotgun is the usual starter choice. Accuracy on a moving target is a skill that takes time to build, but the threshold for getting started is lower than with a rifle.

With or without a dog

Small-game hunting is carried out both with and without a dog:

Without a dog — you walk through the terrain yourself and try to spot game. It requires quiet movement, knowledge of game habits, and patience. Most common in the mountains and open terrain.

With a pointing dog (pointer, setter) — the dog runs ahead and ‘points’ when it finds game. You move up to the dog and shoot when the game flushes. Classic for ptarmigan hunting.

With a driving hound (Norwegian Halden hound, dunker, hygen hound) — the dog drives the game towards you. Common for hare hunting.

With a retriever (retriever, spaniel) — the dog fetches downed game. Commonly combined with pointing dogs.

Norwegian breeds dominate in traditional hunting, but international breeds are also widely used. NJFF (the Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers) and local hunting associations organise hunting-dog trials and training.

For someone new: hunting without a dog is simpler to start with. Hunting with a dog requires training the dog over months or years, and is a considerable skill in its own right.

Hunting dogs covers breeds and training in more detail.

Where in Norway

Small-game hunting is spread geographically:

Ptarmigan hunting has its core in the mountain districts — Troms, Finnmark, Nordland, Innlandet (Hedmark, Oppland), Trøndelag, and the mountain districts of Southern Norway. Statskog’s commons and the fjellstyrer (the local mountain councils that administer Norway’s state commons) offer small-game cards for publicly accessible state land.

Hare hunting takes place across the whole country, often in the lowlands and in the transition zone between forest and farmland.

Woodland-grouse hunting is strongest in Nordland, Trøndelag, Innlandet and parts of Sørlandet/Telemark. It requires local knowledge of the leks.

Sea-fowl hunting in the coastal municipalities, particularly Lofoten/Vesterålen and the Sørlandet coast.

For anyone planning: use Inatur to buy small-game cards on Statskog land. Local fjellstyrer have their own cards on common land.

The way in

For someone new to small-game hunting:

A passed jegerprøven (a 30-hour course + exam) — required for all hunting
Registration in Jegerregisteret (the Register of Hunters) and payment of the hunting licence fee (jegeravgift) (NOK 420 per year for small game, 2025/2026)
Buy a hunting card for the area you want to hunt in. Prices range from a few hundred to NOK 2,000 for a season card.
Shooting practice on a range — practise your accuracy before the season starts. Local hunting associations have ranges with opening hours for members.
A first hunting trip in company — go out with an experienced hunter or on a hunting association’s outing the first time. You learn more from a weekend with an experienced mentor than from several months alone.

For anyone who wants to build up systematically: NJFF local chapters organise hunting weekends and courses. Many offer their own beginner hunting trips where experienced hunters take newcomers into the field.

Ethics and animal welfare

Small-game hunting has its own ethical challenges:

Accuracy — the most important ethical responsibility. Wounding game is the primary risk to animal welfare. Practise before the season, and shoot only when you are sure.

Range and background — know where the pellets or bullets end up if you miss. Do not shoot in a direction where fellow hunters or other people in the outdoors may be.

Dog welfare — if you hunt with a dog, the dog’s training, rest and health are your responsibility. Long days in extreme cold are hard even on robust breeds.

The not-shooting judgement — just because the game is within range does not mean you should shoot. Assess the situation before each shot.

The aftermath — game that is taken should be skinned, butchered and used. It is part of hunting ethics that game is not left unused.

For someone new: take part in the practical part of the jegerprøven and read the Council for Animal Ethics’ (Rådet for dyreetikk) recommendations on hunting and wildlife management.

Season and conditions

The Norwegian small-game season:

September–October — early season. Warmer weather, more vegetation, game is often in a scattered pattern.
November–December — the core of the season. Frost, more open terrain, often snow cover.
January–February — late season. Snow and cold can make the terrain demanding.
March — only in Troms, Finnmark and parts of Nordland. Classic ‘Easter-time’ ptarmigan hunting.

For anyone planning: assessing the weather is critical. A snowstorm or very cold days give game that sits tight, not game that flushes. Clear autumn days are often the best for spot-and-stalk hunting.

Safety

Small-game safety is about firearm safety and field safety:

Firearm safety — check that the weapon is empty every time you pick it up. Keep the muzzle pointed down or up, never towards people. Put the safety on during transport.

Identifying the target — know what you are shooting at. Never shoot at sound alone. Never shoot at movement in the undergrowth without seeing the game clearly.

Background — know what is behind the game. Shotgun pellets can travel 200+ metres, bullets can travel over 1 km.

Communication with fellow hunters — know where they are. Wear orange clothing (a requirement in many areas).

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

Hunting ethics and animal welfare covers this in more detail.

Next steps

If small-game hunting is new to you: sign up for a jegerprøven course if you have not done so. After the exam, join a local NJFF association and take part in group outings.

If you have jegerprøven and want to go further: buy your first hunting card (Inatur or a local fjellstyre) and plan a weekend trip. Start with ptarmigan or hare in familiar terrain.

For anyone who wants to extend to big game: big-game hunting requires the marksmanship test and, as a rule, membership of a hunting team. Moose hunting covers the classic Norwegian big-game form.

For specific species: ptarmigan hunting is the classic Norwegian small-game form.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).