This year's licensed bear hunting begins on August 21. A total of 486 bears may be shot, distributed across the seven counties where licensed hunting is permitted, which is significantly fewer than in 2023 when the allocation was 649 bears.
The bear is protected and, like other large predators, may only be hunted under strictly controlled conditions. Every fifth year, an estimate of the bear population is made. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there were approximately 2,800 bears in Sweden in the autumn of 2022 after that year's licensed hunting had ended.
A preliminary calculation after the 2023 licensed hunting shows that the number of bears is decreasing, relatively rapidly in some counties, and is estimated to be around 2,450 in the autumn of 2023.
The licensed hunting continues until October 15. From October 1, any remaining quotas may be redistributed between hunting areas.
Last year's allocation in parentheses.
Norrbotten: 24 (70)
Västerbotten: 48 (81)
Jämtland: 121 (185)
Västernorrland: 85 (85)
Gävleborg: 125 (140)
Dalarna: 80 (85)
Värmland: 3 (3)
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
