Seal Hunting Information?

[flatwater bill]

Frog..........just curious, how are you planning to hunt the seals? Stick or wheel lady?, light rifle? Grendel, maybe? Optics and reticles you favor? Tell us a bit about your hunting style........There are some very knowledgeable people on this site...and best of luck on what ever game your chasing...................FWB

 

[UKHunter]

I believe you can hunt them in Scotland too, though I have not outfitter infomation im afraid.

I seem to remember that you must make sure the seal is horizontal when you shoot it. If its vertical it will sink to the bottom...

 

[Saul]

I believe you can hunt them in Scotland too, though I have not outfitter infomation im afraid.

I seem to remember that you must make sure the seal is horizontal when you shoot it. If its vertical it will sink to the bottom...

Seems like this would preclude most shots while in water. It would probably be far safer then to just shoot them while on land, though I do not know how often such a shot would present itself.

 

[Hannay]

The Swedish outfitter I mentioned has a diver on crew for retrieving seals that sink.

 

[perttime]

Ideally, you'd shoot a seal while it is out of the water: on a rock or on ice. If you have a diver, like these Finnish guys, shooting in the water is feasible.

Seal hunting is very much regulated in Finland, and you need a Finnish host.

 

[Frog Morton]

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

Thanks for the link. That doesn't sound too promising for bringing hides back.

On a slightly different note, the language of that USFWS page makes me wonder if products purchased out-of-country and made from seal skins might be allowed into the US? USFWS specifically states the cat species listed as 'endangered' and notes that items made from their fur may not be imported, however, regarding seals, polar bears, and sea otters, it merely says the furs are prohibited.

"Furs: Most of the world's wild cats, including tigers and such spotted species as jaguar, leopard, ocelot, margay, and leopard cat, are endangered. You cannot import skins or items made from, or trimmed with, the fur of these animals. Furs from seals, polar bears, and sea otters are also prohibited."

Now, I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to import products made from polar bears into the US, but as I understand it, polar bears are listed as 'threatened' whereas seals are not. Standard Velocity mentioned that Newfoundland having a lot of sealskin products for sale, so at the very least if it weren't possible to bring back the furs from the actual seals you shot, perhaps you could purchase and bring back local sealskin products? Maybe I'm reading way too deeply into the USFWS's wording!!

 

[Frog Morton]

Ideally, you'd shoot a seal while it is out of the water: on a rock or on ice. If you have a diver, like these Finnish guys, shooting in the water is feasible.

Seal hunting is very much regulated in Finland, and you need a Finnish host.

Great video! You mentioned needing a Finnish host; does that mean a guide/outfitter?

 

[perttime]

Great video! You mentioned needing a Finnish host; does that mean a guide/outfitter?

In practice, yes - unless you have your own contacts (I'm not in position to help with that). The video seemed to have references to a company that set up the hunt.

... polar bears are listed as 'threatened' whereas seals are not. ...

There are many species of seals. Some are endangered, some are not. Looks like there are different rules for the two species that can be hunted in Finnish waters. For one, you need a permit. For the other, there's a quota, and authorities can end the hunting if/when it is fulfilled.

 

[Frog Morton]

Frog..........just curious, how are you planning to hunt the seals? Stick or wheel lady?, light rifle? Grendel, maybe? Optics and reticles you favor? Tell us a bit about your hunting style........There are some very knowledgeable people on this site...and best of luck on what ever game your chasing...................FWB

I didn't have a definite plan yet, as I figured that depending on where the hunt is, it may not be feasible to bring my own rifle (I haven't ventured into the realm of bow hunting!). From what I've seen so far, it looks like primarily rifle hunting (at least in the northern climes), but I haven't seen much info on what calibers are commonly used.

 

[Frog Morton]

In practice, yes - unless you have your own contacts (I'm not in position to help with that). The video seemed to have references to a company that set up the hunt.


There are many species of seals. Some are endangered, some are not. Looks like there are different rules for the two species that can be hunted in Finnish waters. For one, you need a permit. For the other, there's a quota, and authorities can end the hunting if/when it is fulfilled.

Interesting. I just did a little searching online and was able to locate what I believe is the same outfitter that produced the video.

 

[375Fox]

https://www.fws.gov/international/l...vation-laws/marine-mammal-protection-act.html

 

[Daktari]

In the link above about the MMPA it said exceptions would be made regarding "Scientific research, public display, enhancing the survival or recovery of a species, and incidental take in commercial fisheries". Does that mean if you donate the seal to a museum it could be imported?

 

[Frog Morton]

In the link above about the MMPA it said exceptions would be made regarding "Scientific research, public display, enhancing the survival or recovery of a species, and incidental take in commercial fisheries". Does that mean if you donate the seal to a museum it could be imported?

It almost sounds that way. Perhaps the museum would have to arrange the import themselves?
Also, the language 'enhancing the survival or recovery of a species' seems fairly open-ended. Given the proper situation, I wonder if this would allow for the import of furs from a management hunt and/or a hunt where a portion of the proceeds are directed towards an approved conservation group/agency?

 

[James Adamson]

I believe you can hunt them in Scotland too, though I have not outfitter infomation im afraid.

I seem to remember that you must make sure the seal is horizontal when you shoot it. If its vertical it will sink to the bottom...

No seal hunting in Scotland. The salmon farms occasionally have to deal with a rogue seal but the antis are trying their best to put a stop to that.
A local fisherman was caught shooting seals that were plaguing the wild seatrouts that were trying to get into the river to spawn, he went to jail.

 

[Frog Morton]

I believe you can hunt them in Scotland too, though I have not outfitter infomation im afraid.

I seem to remember that you must make sure the seal is horizontal when you shoot it. If its vertical it will sink to the bottom...

No seal hunting in Scotland. The salmon farms occasionally have to deal with a rogue seal but the antis are trying their best to put a stop to that.
A local fisherman was caught shooting seals that were plaguing the wild seatrouts that were trying to get into the river to spawn, he went to jail.

Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, have the wild fish (such as seatrout) populations been increasingly impacted by the seals in recent years? That’s probably a loaded question, but you mentioning the local fisherman made me wonder if there’s been issues of late with increasing restrictions on seal management adversely affecting other species (i.e. fish).

 

[James Adamson]

Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, have the wild fish (such as seatrout) populations been increasingly impacted by the seals in recent years? That’s probably a loaded question, but you mentioning the local fisherman made me wonder if there’s been issues of late with increasing restrictions on seal management adversely affecting other species (i.e. fish).

Here in Shetland the sea trout are coming back, more trout and bigger trout being caught every year but the seal population has also increased. I think the biggest impact on sea trout numbers years ago was the illegal net fishing. The seals obviously have an impact but not as much as the poaching did.

 

[R.M.C.]

I always thought seals would be an interesting hunt and a unique trophy.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I was offered a seal hunt, I could hunt maximum of 2, during a planned trip to Greenland for caribou. According to the outfitter, the seals would be given to the tribal people and I would not be allowed to bring into the US any seal part, taxidermy, or merchandise/souvenir.