Wounded game tracking obligations

Legal obligations for tracking wounded game.

Tracking wounded game is required by law in Norway. If there is reason to believe an animal has been hit, the hunter must immediately initiate a search.

For big game (deer species and wild boar), an approved tracking dog is required. The hunting team must have access to a dog with handler, either within the team or through an agreement with a tracking dog network.

The procedure: Mark the shot site. Wait (30 minutes for lung shots, 4 to 6 hours for gut shots). Approach the shot site and look for signs. Call in a tracking dog if necessary.

If the animal is not found, the municipality must be notified within 12 hours. The municipality can then organize further searches and potentially grant permission to dispatch the animal if it is observed later.

The hunter is obligated to take all reasonable measures to find wounded game. This includes spending time and resources on tracking, even if it means the rest of the hunt must be called off.

For small game, a tracking dog is not required, but the hunter still has an obligation to search for hit game and dispatch it humanely.

Failure to conduct a proper search is a violation of the Wildlife Act and can result in loss of hunting rights.