It is in Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland, Jämtland and in parts of Värmlands, Dalarnas and Gävleborgs counties that the elk hunt begins. Other hunters have to wait until October 8.
Totalt 72,328 elks may be shot this year, according to SVT Västerbotten. This is an increase of just over 9,000 elks compared to last year.
At the same time, a declining elk population has been the subject of discussions in recent years.
As recently as this summer, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) warned that the number of elks had decreased so sharply that the elk was included on a preliminary list of endangered species. Hunting was pointed out as the main explanation for the decline and the elk was proposed to be classified as "near threatened".
But then came positive news last week. Then SLU found that the elk population, after ten years of decline, had increased throughout the country, according to new calculations.
Prior to last autumn's hunt, there were approximately 300,000 elks in Sweden – an increase of about 10 percent compared to the previous year.
The reason: hunters have actively chosen to shoot fewer animals than they were allocated. The hunters' choice is likely due to the fact that they want to reverse the decline in the elk population, according to SLU.
Fact: Elk hunt
TT
Monday, September 1, the elk hunt began in the four northernmost counties and parts of Värmlands, Dalarnas and Gävleborgs counties.
In other parts of the country, the hunt begins on October 8.
Elk hunting may last until January 31 at the latest.
Just over 72,000 elks may be shot, according to this year's allocation.
Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, County Administrative Boards' algdata.se and Hunters' Association
