Reindeer hunting in Norway

Arctic Reindeer

The Arctic reindeer, also known as caribou in North America (Rangifer tarandus), is a fascinating animal adapted to life in the extreme conditions of the Arctic tundra and boreal forests. This hoofed mammal belongs to the deer family, with its range extending from North America through northern Europe to Siberia.

The Arctic reindeer is equipped with dense fur that protects it from extreme cold. Its undercoat contains hollow hairs that act as thermal insulators and improve buoyancy while swimming. Specially shaped hooves enable easy movement on snow and frozen ground, while in summer, their surface becomes softer for better grip on wet terrain.

Reindeer are herbivores, primarily feeding on lichens, which they can find even under layers of snow. They also eat grass, leaves, mosses, and fungi. Arctic reindeer are known for their seasonal migrations, some of the longest among terrestrial animals—certain herds travel up to 5,000 km annually.

The Arctic reindeer symbolizes the wild nature of the north. Here, we are in a region with the world’s oldest reindeer population, making it an honor to hunt in the land of the ancestors of all reindeer.

 

Our Journey

This time, we decided to skip the plane and drive to Norway instead. The journey, including a ferry crossing, took two days. The first part of the trip took us through the Czech Republic and Germany, where we boarded a ferry in the evening and disembarked in Sweden early the next morning. We got some sleep during the night and recharged our energy.

Our destination was the town of Skjåk. This town is one of the driest areas in Norway, with an annual precipitation of only around 300 mm. It is famous for its traditional irrigation systems ("kanalir")—hand-dug channels that local farmers have used for centuries to water their fields. The river Otta flows through the town and is popular among kayakers and anglers. The town is also known for high-quality dairy products and local cuisine. Game meat is a staple, so it’s not uncommon to find a high-quality, delicious moose or reindeer burger even at a gas station.

We arrived in Skjåk in the evening. Our hunting guide was already waiting for us. After a quick briefing on what to expect the next day, we settled into a local guesthouse, prepared our gear for the morning, and went to bed, exhausted.

The next day would bring a hike up to the hunting cabin. All of our gear, equipment, and food had to be carried on our backs.

After breakfast, we drove closer to the mountains, a 30-minute journey, stopping at a “mountain” parking lot at the base of the hills. Ahead lay a 7-kilometer hike into the mountains. The hike took us just under three hours, but we weren’t in a rush. Along the way, we soaked in the beauty of the Norwegian landscape and marveled at numerous waterfalls.

The hunting cabin was located in a valley on the border of three national parks: Jotunheimen, Breheimen, and Reinheimen.

Jotunheimen

The name Jotunheimen means “Home of the Giants,” referring to its imposing peaks and dramatic landscape. It is home to 29 of Norway’s highest mountains, including the country’s tallest, Galdhøpiggen (2,469 m).

 

Breheimen

The name Breheimen means “Home of the Glaciers.” It includes Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on mainland Europe. This park offers many glacier hikes and treks. Archaeological artifacts have been found in the area, as humans have traversed and lived here for thousands of years.

 

Reinheimen

The name Reinheimen means “Home of the Reindeer.” This park is one of Norway’s largest areas where wild reindeer roam freely. Reinheimen is known for its untouched nature and minimal human interference, making it ideal for those seeking solitude and truly wild environments.

 

When we arrived at the cabin, other hunting guides welcomed us and offered us local beer. While the hike wasn’t very long, our backpacks weighed approximately 40 kilograms, making this refreshment all the more welcome. It was also unusually warm for this time of year, with temperatures in the town reaching 22°C.

Reindeer dislike the heat. On such days, they cool off on mountain peaks or near glaciers. We knew this hunt wouldn’t be easy and that the warm weather would force us to head deeper into the mountains.

Both Viktor (the hunter) and I were excited about the hunt and the reindeer. That’s why we decided to scout the area already on the first afternoon. The local mountains were more treacherous than they initially appeared, and moving across slippery lichen was no easy feat. After climbing a mountain, Viktor and I exchanged smiles and agreed: this would be fun.

The first day came to an end, and back at the hunting cabin, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of moose meatballs and a local specialty drink, Hoppe gubbe. It was made of 60% vodka, boiling water, and wild berry syrup. The drink warmed our muscles, and after a demanding day covering more than 19 km, we felt completely relaxed.

We had three more hunting days ahead of us.

 

Bad Weather or Hunting Misfortune

The next morning, we woke up to the sound of heavy rain. Our hunting guide decided it would be wiser to wait for the weather to improve. Traveling across slippery rocks high in the mountains is dangerous, and returning to the cabin soaking wet would do no good.

We spent our second day around the cabin, trying our luck fishing in the river, listening to Norwegian songs played on the accordion by our guide, and watching the movement on the surrounding hills.

With the rain came a significant drop in temperature, which worked in our favor. The reindeer would likely descend lower into the valleys to find grazing areas since there isn’t enough food at high altitudes.

On the morning of the third day of our hunting trip, it was still raining, but the downpour was lighter. We decided to venture into the mountains. This time, we climbed very high, gaining over 900 meters of elevation through rugged, rocky terrain and areas covered in slippery lichen. At the top, we changed into dry clothes as we were completely soaked from the hike.

Shortly after, we spotted a large herd of reindeer grazing not far from us.

Reindeer have excellent vision, and if you startle them, the hunt is over. They will run far away and not return to the area for several days.

The pressure was immense—we didn’t want to make a mistake. We constantly checked the wind direction and stayed as low to the ground as possible, crawling across the rocky field. We got within 100 meters of the herd. It was a large group, including females, calves, and massive “golden” males.

We lay on the ground for about an hour, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take a shot. One reindeer obscured another, making it unsafe to fire. Moreover, we were targeting an old, non-breeding male, known as a “cull buck.” There were several such males in the herd.

However, the Norwegian mountains and weather had other plans for us. A thick fog rolled in, and the rest of the day we were essentially chasing ghosts in the mist.

We postponed the hunt to the next day. With unpredictable weather, dense fog, and unfavorable wind, we didn’t want to risk scaring off the reindeer.

 

After Every Storm Comes Sunshine

The final morning of our hunting trip arrived—our last chance. Despite the setbacks, we remained optimistic and determined to succeed.

The entire valley was shrouded in fog, with visibility reduced to just a few dozen meters. Nevertheless, we headed toward the mountains, hoping the fog would thin as we climbed higher.

The sun’s rays began breaking through the fog, lifting our spirits. The fog gradually disappeared, revealing stunning weather. I was walking at the back of the group, with Viktor and our two guides ahead of me. Suddenly, I noticed one of the guides quickly crouch down, and the others immediately followed. I wasn’t sure what was happening.

One of the guides raised his binoculars and scanned the valley near the river. Quietly, he exclaimed, “There they are!”

We found ourselves in a challenging situation, directly in the reindeer’s line of sight. We quickly devised a plan to approach them as discreetly as possible. Moving tightly together, we crossed a mountain stream fed by melting glaciers.

We were now just 50 meters away, hidden behind a rock. Flattening ourselves to the ground, we crawled forward slowly. The reindeer hadn’t noticed us yet, so we had time. They were grazing contentedly, paying no attention to their surroundings. The wind was perfect, and we began scanning the herd to select the right male.

The reindeer were constantly moving, and one kept obscuring another, making it impossible to take a clear shot. It was a repeat of the previous day’s situation. Then, suddenly, the entire group moved, and one old male was left standing alone on the right side.

“That’s him!” the guide whispered.

The silence of the mountains was broken by a single shot. Through the camera viewfinder, I saw the bullet strike its target. I immediately informed Viktor, “You got him!”

The herd scattered, but our reindeer lagged behind. After a few steps, he collapsed.

Reaching the reindeer, we were overcome with joy and emotion—tears of happiness, gratitude, and humility. Warm embraces and heartfelt congratulations followed.

As a cameraman and photographer, I’ve participated in hunts across the globe, but this reindeer hunt in Norway was one of the most challenging.

It was a hunt full of emotions—the fulfillment of one hunter’s dream. I was honored to be part of it