Capercaillie 

Tetrao urogallus

The Capercaillie also known as heather Cock or Wood grouse is a member of the grouse family and well known for its mating display.
The Capercaillie is one of Sweden´s largest birds, the male can have a wingspan of 125 cm and weigh up to 5 kg.
The hen is almost half the size usually 55-65cm long weighing 1,5-2,5 kg with a wingspan of 70 cm.

The diet consists of leaves, buds and insects and during winter mainly conifer needles. Blueberries are also important in the Capercaillies diet.
The courting ritual of the Capercaillie is very charismatic and can be heard in spring through-out the forests of Lapland, Sweden.
This sound starts early in the morning with the male displaying and giving of a sound like tapping to wooden sticks together and gradually faster and faster changing into a clunking sound (like a bottle being opened). It finally turns into a scraping sound like sharpening a tool.
It is truly a breathtaking experience seeing and hearing the Capercaillies courting ritual.

The capercaillie is usually found in older pine tree forests and the population in Sweden is quite steady.

Hunting the Capercaillie is done with free running dogs (or is this working dogs?) that hold the birds at bay, pointer dogs and in the winter by stalking.
The season starts the 25 August until the 15 November. Between 15 November until 31 January only cooks are allowed to shoot.

Black grouse 

Tetrao tetrix

The Black grouse is a colourful game bird and the male bird is easy to recognize by its split tail.

The male is black and has a red eye brow while the female is more greyish and willow-brown to the colour.
It is one of Sweden’s largest birds as the male can reach 60 cm in length and have a wing span of 80 cm.

The black grouse can be found through-out Sweden and reside on wetlands and in the birch forests.
Black grouse’s diet consist of leaves, seeds and insects. During winter it mainly eats birch buds and spends its time under the snow when not feeding.

The black grouse is famous for its spectacular courtships.
In the spring their characteristic sounds fill the forests of Lapland.

We hunt black grouse with pointers and free running spitz dogs that holds the birds at bay, calling/luring and extreme cross country stalk-hunting.
The season runs from 25 August until 15 November. Between 15 November until 31 January only cocks are available to shoot.

Willow grouse & Ptarmigan 

Lagopus lagopus &  Lagopus muta

The willow grouse and ptarmigan are from the grouse family Is most commonly found in moorlands or birch forests and fells.
The average willow grouse measures about 35cm in length and has a wing-span of between 55 – 66 cm, the ptarmigan is slightly smaller.
The body shape is round with a tall neck, small head and short dark beak.
The male willow grouse is red-brown with white and black patches and a white belly.
The female is more speckled and she only has a thin red line over her eyes as compared to the thicker male wattles.

During winter both the male and female change their plumage to completely white to avoid predators.

The willow grouse feeds on plants and insects and nest on directly on the ground.
The female lays 6 – 11 brown speckled egg every year and the willow grouse/ ptarmigan is the only species in the grouse family where both parents help with the young.

We hunt willow grouse and ptarmigan with pointers in forest lands and the mountains of Lapland, Sweden. During the winter, we hunt in the mountains using skies, white clothes and fine calibre rifles. When we have good snow conditions we can also hunt with pointers during the winter period.
The season runs from 25 August until 15 March. For a winter hunt, we recommend to book your hunt from 15 February-15 March.

Hazel Hen

Bonasa bonasia

The hazel hen is the smallest in the grouse family.
It has a wingspan of about 48-54cm with a brown speckled body and grey top.
The hazel hen is found in Scandinavia, Russia, China and Japan and sometimes in other parts of Northern Europe.

The hazel hen is a very stationary bird and doesn’t flock in winter like many other grouse-birds.
It is usually found on the ground in pine forests and can be hard to spot.
The diet consists of sprouts, leaves, insects and larvae.

The hazel hen is hunted through stalk hunt and by calling in Lapland, Sweden. The season runs from 25August until 15 November.

Bespoke bird hunting programs in Swedish Lapland

“NordGuide offers one of Lapland, Sweden’s broadest and most advanced hunting programs, where quality and professionalism are the keywords. We have lifelong experience of hunting and our well-trained guides are a professional guarantee of a successful adventure. Our programme offers exclusive hunting grounds all over Lapland, Sweden with a high standard of accommodation and generous range of alternative activities. Naturally we can help you turn your hunting dreams into reality.”

Tommy Holmberg