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What does the Hunting Act say about the use of thermal sights and thermal cameras?

What does the Hunting Act say about the use of thermal sights and thermal cameras?

04.16.2025

Night Vision Devices and Artificial Light Now Allowed in Wild Boar Hunting

Photo: Leo Grönlund @leogronlund_outdoors

A change to the Finnish Hunting Act now permits the use of electronic aiming devices and artificial light sources in wild boar hunting without a special exemption. These tools can now be used, especially for night-time hunting.

The law allowing artificial light in wild boar hunting came into effect on May 10, 2024.

Photo: Alex Karpus

The aim of the legislative change is to improve the efficiency of wild boar hunting in order to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF). An ASF outbreak in Finland would cause significant economic losses to the pig farming industry and could locally restrict or entirely prohibit hunting and hunting tourism.
(Source: Metsästäjä magazine)

Use of Artificial Light and Night Sights Again Permitted in White-Tailed Deer Hunting in Southwest Finland

The Finnish Hunters’ Association has once again received a special exemption from the Finnish Wildlife Agency, allowing the use of artificial light and night sights attached to firearms for hunting white-tailed deer during the 2024–2025 hunting season. As in previous years, the permit is valid for one year and applies to a specific area in Southwest Finland where white-tailed deer populations are particularly dense.

Only hunting clubs and groups operating within the designated permit area — and who have registered with the Hunters’ Association as authorized users — are allowed to use the exemption. The permit covers both artificial light and firearm-mounted night sights intended for night shooting.

The exemption is valid from September 1, 2024, to February 15, 2025, in areas southwest of the Helsinki–Tampere–Pori line, specifically within the wildlife management associations named in the exemption.

Legislation in Other Countries

In Sweden, the use of night and thermal sights has been permitted for some time. Even tourists can hunt wild boar there using thermal imaging equipment.

In Latvia, night and thermal sights are also allowed for red deer hunting, but their use is regulated by time. They may only be used for two hours before and after sunrise or sunset — full night-time use is not permitted.