The three holders of hunting rights around Naruska are Metsähallitus (the Finnish Forest Administration), the Salla Community Forest and Pohjois-Sallan Erä Ry. All three sell hunting permits for their areas. Detailed permit prices and other hunting conditions can be found on the websites of these organisations.
Naruskan Retkeilymaja is situated in the middle of these three permit areas. The road network to the permit areas is good, and hunting parties have adopted the hostel as their base camp, setting out to the permit areas in the early morning. In the evening, sauna and catering await the hunters.
Forest grouse populations vary somewhat from year to year. The elk population in eastern Lapland is weak. Bears are shot annually close to the hostel.
January capercaillie hunting on their roost trees has not gained wide popularity — understandably, given that the days are short and snow conditions for movement are unpredictable. The hostel has two pairs of gliding snowshoes available for hire. Roost-tree hunting can be supplemented by trying, for example, fox snare trapping, for which guidance and equipment are available from the host. Ice fishing gear is also available for loan if you fancy admiring the starlit sky from the ice of the neighbouring river.
Hunters from southern Finland are particularly pleased that the deer ked has not spread into the Naruska and Tuntsa wilderness areas. Hunting terrain here is also considered more varied compared to hunters' home areas.
The hostel has a trailer and a tow hitch available for guests to borrow for collecting game. Cold storage is available for small amounts. There is no skinning shed, but a bear has been skinned on the front loader forks of a small tractor.
In the boiler room you can dry your hunting boots for the next morning.
VHF dog trackers work reliably in the area and one is available for hire if needed. Mobile network coverage is limited.
You can ask the host to judge a LINT competition, and a dogless bird hunter can enquire whether they might join the host and Rex (a Finnish Spitz) for a nominal fee to experience hunting with a barking bird dog.
The old bear cage in the article photo was found by chance in the forest on a trip to a Metsähallitus area. You can try to find out the coordinates. 🙂