A visit at the hunting museum in Riihimäki / Finland

The Hunting Museum of Finland is probably the leading information center and service institution on its field in Finland. The mission of the museum is to collect, to preserve and to showcase Finnish hunting culture. The museum operations include a library and an archive serving researchers and the public. Every year, the museum offers multiple exhibitions and events for local and national audiences.

The collections include over 18 000 hunting related artifacts and over 120 000 photographs. The library has the widest collection of hunting related books and magazines in Scandinavia. Besides in Finnish, a large amount of books in Swedish and also in English are included in the library collection. The archive holds important organizational archives such as the Archive of the Finnish Hunters' Association and the Archive of the Game Preservation Foundation of Finland.

One of the last great wilderness areas in Europe lies high up in the north. The landscape there has not changed much since the Ice Ace over 10 000 years ago. Finland has only five million inhabitants. Most of them living in the southern part of the country. Nature reigns in many parts of Finland, where over 385 000 Finnish hunters still carry on their passion.

Finnish hunters are proud of their long tradition and have established a museum dedicated to hunting in the small town of Riihimäki in 1930. The small town is also known as the home of the well known firearms manufacturer Sako. Visitors of the museum learn about hunting methods that have been used throughout the centuries.

During the years 2011 to 2016 the museum has been renovated and the whole permanent exhibition renewed. Renewing of the exhibition is conducted in four parts. The first part of the new permanent exhibition – "Thrill of the Hunt" was opened to the public in March 2013.

Hunting in the long nordic winter

Winter hunting is a major topic, of course. Skis and snow shoes have been indispensable tools for the hunter in Finland and other nordic countries.

A stuffed deer — A stuffed reindeer in the Hunting Museum of Finland in Riihimäki.

Winter equipment for hunters in the Hunting Museum of Finland in Riihimäki.

A sled attached to ropes on the ceiling — This sled was used to carry of the haul and the hunting weapon.

Deer in the Hunting Museum of Finland — As one of the main species of wildlife, the reindeer provided almost everything needed for survival: venison, hide and antlers.

Archaic trapping

The sometimes archaic gear designed to catch prey in the unforgiving natural environment is on display with many reconstructions and original traps.

Hunting museum in Riihimäki: a martial-looking bear trap.

Setting up the bird snare required extensive knowledge of the habits of the wildlife.

Hunting arms and ammunition of modern times

Of course, a hunting museum must showcase also modern firearms and ammuniton for hunting. Visitors in Riihimäki get a complete overview of the production of Finnish hunting firearms. Names such as Valmet, Sako, Tikka and Lynx are well represented here; these firearms are a testament to Scandinavian ingenuity and engineering skill.

There is also an assortment of hunting ammunition to marvel at. For sure the Finnish brand Lapua is not missing. But also GECO ammunition is showcased in historical boxes from the 1970s