An analysis from Naturvårdsverket shows that the number of hunters in Dalarna is falling, especially among the young. The development follows a national trend despite the region's strong hunting tradition.
Between 2015 and 2025 the number of hunting permit holders in Dalarna fell by 12 percent. The share dropped from 6.0 percent in 2005 to 4.5 percent in 2024. For those aged up to 29 the proportion plunged from 11.0 percent to 7.6 percent between 2017 and 2025.
Rasmus Söderberg, youth officer at the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management in Falu Jaktvårdskrets, confirms the trend. He says few young people enter hunting without family connections and that social media spreads a distorted image.
Dalarna nevertheless has the country's strongest hunting culture according to the figures. 51 percent view hunting as an important tradition compared with 36 percent nationally. Only 9.5 percent mainly hunt in other counties.
To reverse the decline the association arranges trial activities including wildlife management and shooting for young people.