Notification and Reporting

Who to contact for wounded game, reporting deadlines, and obligations to authorities.

When a tracking operation is initiated, it is important to know who should be notified and what reporting obligations apply. Procedures vary between countries, but the principle is the same: wounded game must be reported to the appropriate authority.

In Norway, the hunt leader is responsible for organizing tracking. If the tracking effort is unsuccessful within a reasonable time, the municipality must be notified. The municipality is responsible for coordinating further tracking, potentially with assistance from the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO).

In Sweden, tracking must be reported to the hunting rights holder (the person who holds hunting rights in the area). For traffic accidents involving game, the police must be notified via 112.

In Finland, the hunter has corresponding obligations, and reporting is done to the game management center or local authorities.

Deadlines are important. Tracking must be initiated immediately after a hit is confirmed or suspected. It is not acceptable to postpone tracking until the next day unless conditions (darkness, dangerous terrain) make it justifiable.

Documentation should include: time of the shot, description of the animal's reaction, findings at the shot site, time tracking was initiated, which tracking team was used, and the result.

If protected game or game outside the hunting season is shot at, the hunter has a duty to report to the police. This applies regardless of whether the animal was found or not.

Traffic-injured game has its own procedures. When game is hit by a vehicle, the police must be notified. The municipality is responsible for organizing any tracking with a dog. Many municipalities have agreements with local tracking dog teams for this purpose.

There is no shame in asking for help. Experienced hunters call for a tracking dog without hesitation. It shows responsibility.