Farmers in western Norway have long believed that something must be done. Now comes the first measures to reduce the ever-growing deer population. 72 municipalities, mainly in Western Norway, have been granted quota-free hunting for deer calves by the Norwegian Environment Agency. This means that there is no limit to how many calves can be shot. All municipalities that applied have been granted this. 31 are in Vestland county. Between them is Bergen. Afraid of a strange composition – The deer population must decrease! That’s what the wildlife manager in Bergen, Caroline Ertsås Christie, says. She thinks there are so many deer that it is detrimental to agriculture. In addition, there are more and more collisions. – It is also not good for the deer tribe itself that there are too many. There is too much fighting over the food, and an odd mix of animals. Here are all the municipalities where it is legal to hunt deer calves quota-free in 2022: Farmers association happy about increased quotas Farmers in the west have long despaired over what they experience is an ever-increasing problem. In Hausdalen in Bergen, they have tried everything to keep the deer away. – But this year he has eaten between 30-40 per cent of our grass. It is despairing. This means that we have to cut down on the number of sheep that can get food during the winter. Bodhild Fjelltveit is a farmer and second deputy leader of the Farmers’ Association. She believes that the management of the deer has been too bad, but that free calf hunting is a step in the right direction. – But the quotas for adult animals must also be increased. This threatens the livelihoods of both farmers and the deer themselves. The deer plague may be what causes the margins to be too small for many Westland farms. – STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Bodhild Fjelltveit is second deputy manager of the Farmers’ Association. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Announces more measures Wildlife manager Christie says there will be more measures in Bergen from autumn onwards, and that they will run together with the neighboring municipalities. – We are considering increasing the quotas for adult animals as well. The goal is a smaller population, and that the largest animals are kept. Christie depicts the deer as a climate winner. Milder winters mean that individuals who previously did not survive get long lives on western forests. The deer spreads to places where it was not previously found. – That is why we need more active management going forward. But it is challenging to bring hunters, landowners, municipalities and central authorities together. The deer hunt opens on 1 September.
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Announces harsh measures against the out-of-control deer population – news Vestland
