The reason behind the restriction is the shooting accident in the UK park in autumn 2020. The municipalities of Inari, Savukoski and Sodankylä have opposed the restriction of hunting, among others.
The Administrative Court has issued its decision to restrict hunting in several camping areas in Lapland. According to the court, the last decision from January 2022 was in accordance with the law. The municipalities of Inari, Savukoski and Sodankylä, as well as the game management associations of Inari and Sodankylä, as well as several private individuals, had appealed the decision to the administrative court.
The Regional Administrative Agency of Lapland, on the application of Metsähallitus, banned hunting with firearms for five years in certain recreational areas of the municipality of Inari, Sodankylä, Salla and Posio, and the city of Rovaniemi, pursuant to Section 23 of the Hunting Act. Some of the areas are, for example, in Urho Kekkonen National Park, some in Riisitunturi National Park.
In the background is the fatal shot of a mountain biker, which was shot by a hunter in Urho Kekkonen National Park in the fall of 2020. . The hunter received a suspended prison sentence for aggravated manslaughter and hunting crime.
The Administrative Court held that the Finnish Forestry Authority was competent to make an application regarding the restriction of hunting. It also held that the regional administrative agency had not exceeded its authority in deciding that the duration of the restriction would be five years.
The administrative court also considered that the restricted areas are generally visited throughout the year and the number of visitors is significantly high. Hunting with firearms is thus apt to cause a considerable risk of damage in the area.
The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court.