Seal Hunting Information?

[Frog Morton]

Hi all,

Does anyone on here have experience with seal hunting in the Northern hemisphere? As I understand it, seal hunting is still allowed in Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada (apologies if I’m missing a country here). I’ve seen a few threads on AH about seal hunting, but I hadn’t found much information regarding what opportunities exist internationally for nonresidents of these countries (i.e. US citizens). I’d like to look into doing a seal hunt once international travel resumes, and would be grateful for any information on the subject.

Thanks!

Claire

 

[Standard Velocity]

We’ve spent some time in both Canada and Iceland. In Newfoundland the people were really pleasant and there seemed to be a disproportionately high number of hunters. I did not look into seal hunting but sealskin goods were available everywhere. No specific sealing advice but if you were to find a hunt in Newfoundland you’d be among some of the friendliest folks I’ve met.

Good luck.

 

[Shootist43]

Frog, use the AH search function. Several years ago one of our Scandinavian members posted several articles on seal hunting. Find them and PM him for info.

 

[BRICKBURN]

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/seal-hunting.5153/

 

[Hannay]

You can hunt seals in Sweden; I've talked to one outfitter at the Swedish Game Fair - Roslagens Jakt & Vilt. They hunt in the Stockholm archipelago - that is, the islands outside of Stockholm. Here's a video that will give you an idea:

The video is in Swedish, as is their website. You can use Google translate for a rough translation. If you're interested, I'd drop them an email in English. The vast majority of Swedes speak passable or better English.

From my conversation with them, the hunting is done in the spring and fall, before and after the main summer vacation season.

 

[Shootist43]

Frog, here is the AH thread I mentioned earlier.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/norway-seal-hunt.42456/

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Hunting Seal in Namibia: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/seal-hunting.5153/

 

[Ed Lally]

You can hunt seals in northern Newfoundland. Justin Boyd, affiliated with Tuckamore Lodge offers guided Seal Hunts. Tuckamorelodge.com or call Barb at 709-865-6361 and she can put you in touch with Justin. Great people, great Lodge and a lot of fun. I don't recommend seal fin soup as an everyday meal but it is worth trying. Have fun!!!

 

[Daktari]

I've tried seal meat at a restaurant in Quebec, its interesting. Black in color, texture of fat, with a meaty taste. Completely different from any meat I've seen!

 

[Chago]

In Canada we have a estimated 7.3 million harp seal. Quotas are as high as 300k+ per season. So you can imagine this isn't exactly sitting for weeks looking for polka dot cat to come out to the bait. People get really hung up on the method used to hunt seal in Canada. But like most antis, have no idea why these methods were adopted and why they continue. I will be honest it's not for everyone. But if your up for it it is a action packed adventure that's for sure. I live in horse country. And I always find it interesting. When people on horseback wearingfancy red suits and high leather boots. Following a pack of dogs shred foxes and coyotes to shreds. Then judge me for big game hunting..... It's laughable. But these same folks have issues with seal hunts.

As I always say. If it's legal and ethical. To each their own.

 

[Frog Morton]

We’ve spent some time in both Canada and Iceland. In Newfoundland the people were really pleasant and there seemed to be a disproportionately high number of hunters. I did not look into seal hunting but sealskin goods were available everywhere. No specific sealing advice but if you were to find a hunt in Newfoundland you’d be among some of the friendliest folks I’ve met.

Good luck.

Newfoundland is one area of the world I haven't visited before, but based on your experience there it certainly sounds like a place that should be on my list! Thank you for your input!

 

[Frog Morton]

Frog, here is the AH thread I mentioned earlier.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/norway-seal-hunt.42456/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/seal-hunting.5153/

Hunting Seal in Namibia: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/seal-hunting.5153/

Thank you for the links! Shootist43, I'll try PM'ing Larm from Norway.

 

[Frog Morton]

You can hunt seals in northern Newfoundland. Justin Boyd, affiliated with Tuckamore Lodge offers guided Seal Hunts. Tuckamorelodge.com or call Barb at 709-865-6361 and she can put you in touch with Justin. Great people, great Lodge and a lot of fun. I don't recommend seal fin soup as an everyday meal but it is worth trying. Have fun!!!

Thanks for the recommendation and info, I'll check them out! Do you know if it's possible to bring the hides back into the US?

 

[Frog Morton]

I've tried seal meat at a restaurant in Quebec, its interesting. Black in color, texture of fat, with a meaty taste. Completely different from any meat I've seen!

Interesting! That is something I would like to try. I always imagined it as oily and more of a fishy taste than a meaty taste.

 

[Saul]

I must say, I never thought of doing this, but it does sound rather unique. I wonder if you could do it with a harpoon/spear.

 

[Frog Morton]

In Canada we have a estimated 7.3 million harp seal. Quotas are as high as 300k+ per season. So you can imagine this isn't exactly sitting for weeks looking for polka dot cat to come out to the bait. People get really hung up on the method used to hunt seal in Canada. But like most antis, have no idea why these methods were adopted and why they continue. I will be honest it's not for everyone. But if your up for it it is a action packed adventure that's for sure. I live in horse country. And I always find it interesting. When people on horseback wearingfancy red suits and high leather boots. Following a pack of dogs shred foxes and coyotes to shreds. Then judge me for big game hunting..... It's laughable. But these same folks have issues with seal hunts.

As I always say. If it's legal and ethical. To each their own.

You hit the nail on the head right there, Chago. It always seems as if those who have the loudest and most negative views on different game management practices often are those who have the less knowledge and experience in the subject.

 

[Frog Morton]

You can hunt seals in Sweden; I've talked to one outfitter at the Swedish Game Fair - Roslagens Jakt & Vilt. They hunt in the Stockholm archipelago - that is, the islands outside of Stockholm. Here's a video that will give you an idea:

The video is in Swedish, as is their website. You can use Google translate for a rough translation. If you're interested, I'd drop them an email in English. The vast majority of Swedes speak passable or better English.

From my conversation with them, the hunting is done in the spring and fall, before and after the main summer vacation season.

Great video! Thanks for the tip- it looks like they hunt quite the range of game. I'll drop them a line.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

How can anyone hunt seal............

 

[Chago]

So funny story. I hunt with a lot of my clients who are of course now friends through hunting. And me being the only Canadian in the bunch I take a lot of shit for saying eh, pro cess, washroom etc. We had a conversation come up about seal hunting while we were in South Dakota on a pheasant hunt. So once I brought up the idea of using a club which is the traditional way to hunt them. Ohhhh man did the jokes pour on.

"Do you guys bedazzle your clubs ?"

Do you guys paint canadain flags on your clubs cause you know they would put the stars and stripes if this was a american thing"

"So I guess if I meet a girl at a bar in Canada and she says lets go clubbing, she doesn't mean go dancing she means go club some seals?"

It went on and on. But it was pretty funny.

 

[Countrylife]

Thanks for the recommendation and info, I'll check them out! Do you know if it's possible to bring the hides back into the US?

Last time I checked the answer was no. And that includes any products made from seals. Check under "furs".
https://www.fws.gov/le/tips-for-travelers-species-list.html