Sweden is a country where hunting is a long-standing tradition in both rural and urban populations. You can find vacation trips where you can hunt moose or deer. You can even bring your own hunting rifle … if you follow the laws.
Sweden has a large and active gun culture. The nation ranks number 10 in the list of countries with the most guns per capita, with the U.S. coming in first.
Sweden puts an emphasis on responsible gun ownership, and frankly requires a lot more of its gun owners than the U.S. does. Their laws promote safety but don’t prevent people from having guns.
If you are going to bring your own guns to Sweden, you’re going to have to fill out a lot of paperwork and paying a tax. You’ll also have to store your guns in a locked safe rather than bringing them to your apartment or hotel.
You can also expect to have to take a trip to a shooting range to test your ability to make good shots without endangering others. This isn’t a law, but most hunting teams and landowners won’t let you hunt on their land unless you show you can accurately hit a moving target at 100 yards. Unlike in the U.S., the vast majority of land is privately owned, so this certification is very important to being able to hunt.
Another thing U.S. hunters will find odd is that when you go hunting, you’ll have to keep your rifle unloaded until you’re ready to shoot. This, the Swedes say, prevents accidental hunting injuries. You’ll also find that in the middle of a hunting trip, the group will sit down for food cooked over a campfire. The day is just as much about coming together for a walk in the woods as it is about shooting a moose or deer.
Swedes don’t trophy hunt, either. Any animals that are killed are eaten or the meat sold to others.
Dr. Thomas Heberlein, a sociologist and avid hunter, has written a lot of about the Swedish and American hunting traditions. Based on his experience there, he has written an article sharing what he believes to be very simple, common sense suggestions on how to get American gun culture moving in a less violent direction.
Have you been on hunting trips in and outside the U.S.? What were the differences you noticed? Are there any tips you’d suggest for American hunters based on what you saw outside the country? Please share your thoughts in the comments.