Norwegian and Swedish Hunters Charged in Illegal Bear Hunting Case Involving TV Celebrity

Six men, five from Norway and one from Sweden, have been charged with serious hunting offenses following the shooting of a bear and one of her cubs in Strömsund Municipality, Sweden, in autumn 2023. The case has garnered attention due to the involvement of TV personality Isak Dreyer.

Illegal Hunting of a Mother Bear and Cub

Swedish law strictly prohibits the shooting of bears with cubs, regardless of hunting license status. According to the indictment, the hunting team allegedly pursued the bears with a vehicle and dogs for several hours before fatally shooting the mother bear and one of her cubs. The fate of the remaining two cubs is unknown, but prosecutor Åse Schoultz suggests they likely perished alone after their mother’s death.

Collective Responsibility Under Scrutiny

A central issue in the case is whether the hunting team shares collective responsibility for the incident. Prosecutor Schoultz has rejected the defense’s argument that each hunter is solely responsible for their individual actions. She maintains that the team operated with a common plan and understanding when using specialized bear dogs.

Isak Dreyer’s Involvement

TV celebrity Isak Dreyer explained his involvement in the hunt, stating he acted in decent faith and was unaware of the bears’ family status. Dreyer claims he had no prior experience with bear hunting and fully trusted the hunting team. Swedish police believe Dreyer was not present when the bears were shot but arrived at the scene afterward.

Evidence Presented in Court

Evidence presented in court included a video, though it was noted that the voices in the video are not those of the hunters. The police too found the skin of a bear cub at Dreyer’s residence.

Hunters’ Testimonies

One defendant testified that he met Dreyer by chance and, with the hunt leader’s approval, invited him on the bear hunt. Another hunter stated he felt responsible for providing Dreyer with basic hunting knowledge and hunted with him on the first day. He admitted to congratulating a hunting companion on shooting a bear and later experiencing an “emotional roller coaster” upon learning the bear had cubs.

An experienced hunter testified about the dangers of releasing dogs on a mother bear with cubs, explaining he had witnessed dogs being seriously injured in such situations. He stated this information was shared to demonstrate the team’s lack of awareness that they were hunting a family of bears.

Hunt Leader’s Account

The hunt leader stated he had been hunting various game since 1980 and had participated in bear hunts in Sweden. He utilized four game cameras and a Messenger group with 17 members to share information about the hunt. He argued that the ability for multiple people to track the hunt disproves claims of an organized illegal hunt.

The hunt leader claimed he only learned the bear had three cubs, and one was shot, during police interrogation. He expressed frustration and anger upon receiving this information and denied any formal responsibility for the incident, asserting his role was merely administrative.

Further Testimony and Upcoming Proceedings

Another hunter from Helgeland testified that he was on post when the dogs began chasing a bear and learned a bear had been shot via message. He claims he was shocked and upset when he later learned the bear had three cubs.

The trial is set to continue, with expert testimony scheduled for next Tuesday. Closing arguments from the prosecution and defense are expected on March 25.

About Strömsund Municipality

Strömsund Municipality is located in Jämtland County, northern Sweden. It is the northernmost municipality in the county and Sweden’s sixth largest in area, with approximately 12,000 inhabitants and 1,100 companies. Strömsund Municipality – Wikipedia

The area offers opportunities for outdoor activities, including fishing, hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling. Tourism is significant, particularly around Vildmarksvägen (The Wilderness Road). Strömsund Municipality – Jämtland Härjedalen Turism