The Administrative Court of Appeal in Sundsvall has today lifted the temporary ban on lynx license hunting in counties where it was approved. Naturskyddsföreningen is appealing the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court. A total of 153 lynx may be shot under the license hunt.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Administrative Court of Appeal in Sundsvall ruled to lift the temporary ban on lynx license hunting. The hunt had been halted days before its planned start on March 1, following appeals including from Naturskyddsföreningen. The decision applies to all counties where license hunting was approved, including Örebro county and Norrbotten, as reported by Nerikes Allehanda and SVT Nyheter citing Svensk Jakt. In January, Norrbotten county administrative board announced no license hunting for 2026 as the lynx population had not recovered sufficiently. Sweden has about 1,400 lynx, a population that has increased slightly but is still classified as vulnerable, per Naturskyddsföreningen. The total quota is 153 lynx for license hunting. Naturskyddsföreningen strongly criticizes the ruling. “This decision risks having serious and long-term consequences for the lynx population and for how we view the protection of threatened species in Sweden,” says chair Beatrice Rindevall in a comment. The organization will appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court.
