Finland's quota-based wolf hunting season has ended, the Finnish Wildlife Agency announced on Wednesday morning. Hunters shot 86 of the allowed quota of 100 wolves.

The season began on New Year's Day following a controversial update to the country's Hunting Act.

Wolves in Finland had previously enjoyed year-round protection from hunters, but the legal reform allowed the animals to be culled during the period from 1 January to 10 February. Finland's parliament voted last year in favour of lifting the year-round ban, which has mostly been in effect since 1973, due to concerns about the growing numbers of wolves in certain territories.

According to figures from the Wildlife Agency, a total of 82 wolves were killed across 15 different designated hunting areas during the 2026 hunting season.

However, Finland's Natural Resources Institute (acronymed as Luke in Finnish) is still analysing samples, meaning that figure is subject to change.

There were about 430 wolves in Finland in 2024, according to Luke's estimates.

Finland’s independent Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis sharply criticised the government's wolf-hunting legislation last year, arguing the process bypassed regular procedure and failed to carry out an impact analysis.

Yle News reporter Matt Schilke explains the background to the introduction of the new law.