Estonia tightens bear hunting rules: special permit now required

After ongoing disputes between the Environment Agency and the NGO Estonian Large Carnivores, Estonia's Climate Ministry has rewritten hunting regulations. Bears may now only be hunted with a special permit issued by the Environment Agency.

Estonia has introduced stricter rules for bear hunting following persistent disagreements between the Environment Agency and the non-governmental organisation Estonian Large Carnivores (MTÜ Eesti suurkiskjad). The Climate Ministry stepped in and rewrote the hunting regulations, making special permits mandatory for any bear hunt.

Under the new rules, hunters must obtain an individual permit from the Environment Agency before they are allowed to shoot a bear. The change marks a significant shift in how Estonia manages its bear population, placing greater oversight in the hands of environmental authorities rather than leaving decisions to existing general hunting quotas.

The reform follows years of friction between conservation advocates and hunting interests. MTÜ Eesti suurkiskjad has long argued that bears deserve stronger legal protections as a large carnivore species, while the Environment Agency has sought to balance wildlife management with the concerns of rural communities and farmers. The new permit system is intended to ensure that each individual kill is assessed and justified on a case-by-case basis.