Hunting in the kingdom of wild reindeer

Every autumn, Gerd Roger Olsen spends several weeks in the mountains as a guide for Fjelleventyret Reindeer Hunting - an adventure in the autumn - Fjelleventyret i Skjåk. Based inside Breheimen National Park, he arranges for hunters who want a tailor-made hunting adventure. The mountain huts serve as base camps, and Icelandic horses are used to transport meat. Olsen, with his in-depth knowledge of the terrain and old reindeer tracks, ensures safety and mastery for the hunters.

Basecamp in the reindeer mountain The basecamp is located a two-hour walk into the mountain, in the middle of the big bucks' kingdom. From there, the hunt is planned based on the reindeer's movements. Accommodation is in cabins or tents, depending on weather conditions and needs. The terrain in Lundadalen is demanding, with steep mountains and glaciers, but Olsen adapts the days to the hunters' fitness and experience.

Excitement and mastery The hunt often begins with scouting from the mountaintops, where binoculars are used to spot reindeer in the terrain. With their effective camouflage, finding the herds requires both experience and patience. Once the reindeer are located, the herd is carefully analyzed to ensure that the hunters only hunt the correct animals according to the hunting card.

– Your pulse is racing, your heart is beating. You are tired, dirty and focused, but this is what makes the experience so real, says Olsen.

The phenomenon he calls "animal tremors" – an intense mix of excitement and nervousness – is common, especially for novice hunters.

Preparation is key For Gerd Roger Olsen, 90 percent of the hunt is about preparation. Large parts of the year are spent mapping the terrain, observing the reindeer herds and updating knowledge of the area. This preparation is crucial to success in the challenging mountainous areas.

Part of the cultural heritage

Wild reindeer hunting in Skjåk is more than a pastime – it is an important part of Norwegian cultural heritage. Reindeer have been hunted in these dramatic mountains and glaciers for millennia. For Olsen, hunting is a way to connect with nature and history, a counterbalance to a modern, technological life. Life in the mountains brings him back to a primordial simplicity that is both therapeutic and exciting.

Sustainability and tradition

Olsen emphasizes sustainable hunting and traditional methods. After the hunt, an old method is used to preserve the meat, known as "skinning the meat".
“We find a stone slab over a stream and lay the meat in layers so that it gets air. We build a wall of stone around it to protect it from animals and insects,” explains Olsen. The GPS position is sent to those who will collect the meat, and Icelandic horses are responsible for transporting it out of the mountain.

Wild reindeer hunting in Skjåk is a unique experience where nature, excitement and tradition meet – a reminder of humanity's connection to nature's cycles.

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