A trial is ongoing against six men, five from Norway and one from Värmland, for serious hunting offenses in Strömsund municipality. The alleged offenses occurred in October 2023, with the men accused of serious illegal bear hunting in Sweden. It is strictly forbidden to shoot sows with cubs in Sweden, regardless of whether one has a license or not.
According to the County Administrative Board in Jämtland, a number of bears could be hunted and killed in summer 2023, but shooting females with cubs or cubs was prohibited. Prosecutor Åse Schoultz believes she can prove this was an illegal, planned hunt on a bear sow with cubs, and that cars were used during the hunt. According to the indictment, the men collectively and by agreement deliberately hunted a bear sow and her cubs during a hunting trip.
I acted in good faith and looked forward to my first bear hunt.
The prosecutor alleges that the men first shot a female bear and later one of her cubs. Video was shown in court of one of the hunters shooting the bear sow and her falling. In the video, the shooter is heard talking with one of the other hunters afterwards, saying he ended up shooting a female and that there were three cubs with her.
Later in the video, the shooter is heard suggesting they would claim they shot at a lone bear. Police found a video in the accused men's phones showing them hunting a female bear with two cubs using a car, and one man shot the female and one cub. In earlier police interrogations, one of the six suspected men confessed to the offense.
I had a lot to learn and had full trust in the hunting party.
During the trial, all six men deny the offense. Prosecutor Åse Schoultz has demanded prison sentences of around 2 years for those who shot the bear sow and cub, down to 6 months for other members, and a one-year sentence for Isak Dreyer. Isak Dreyer has consistently denied guilt and claimed he did not shoot any bear.
Swedish police believe that Isak Dreyer was not present when the bear sow and cub were shot, but arrived at the scene later. Prosecutor Åse Schoultz does not believe the main accused's explanation that he thought he was shooting at a lone bear and says the man has changed his explanation afterwards. The bear sow was checked later the same day.
I then skinned the bear cub and decided to take the skin home to Norway.
The bear cub that was also shot was never reported. There is also video of the smallest bear being dragged by Isak Dreyer. One of the hunters has admitted that he was the one who shot the bear sow.
One of the accused is suspected of taking home the skin of the shot bear cub, and prosecutors request it be confiscated. The defender of the man does not wish to comment to NRK. The trial's outcome could have significant implications for hunting regulations in Sweden, potentially leading to stricter enforcement or heightened penalties for similar offenses in the future.
I thought I was shooting at a lone bear.
Key unresolved questions include what specific evidence, beyond the video, the prosecutor has to prove the hunt was planned and illegal, and why the man who initially confessed later denied the offense during the trial. Additionally, it is unknown what the exact roles and actions of each of the six men were during the hunting trip, and how the court will weigh the conflicting accounts from the prosecutor, police, and defense regarding Isak Dreyer's involvement.
I was not involved in shooting any cubs or females that day.