Hunting Seasons in Iceland 2026
| Species / Season | Open Season | Night Hunting | Methods | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reindeer Season Iceland | 07/15 – 09/15 | no | rifle | East Iceland highlands only. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) administers strict lottery-based tag system. Very limited tags available, Iceland has very limited species diversity and no large predators · Hunting permit required, lottery-based tag allocation for reindeer, strict bag limits, Environment Agency oversight |
| Arctic Fox Season Iceland | 09/01 – 04/15 | no | rifle | Year-round pest control permitted in some agricultural areas. Iceland's only native land mammal. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) monitors populations. No large predators in Iceland, very limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, pest control allowed year-round in designated areas, Environment Agency oversight |
| Rock Ptarmigan Season Iceland | 11/01 – 12/22 | no | shotgun | Very popular and traditional Icelandic hunt. Strict, short season. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) sets the season annually. No large predators in Iceland, limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, strict daily bag limits, season may be suspended in low-population years, Environment Agency oversight |
| Pink-footed Goose Season Iceland | 08/20 – 03/15 | no | shotgun | Most popular waterfowl hunt in Iceland. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) monitors populations. Large breeding populations in the Icelandic highlands. No large predators, limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, strict bag limits, Environment Agency oversight |
| Greylag Goose Season Iceland | 08/20 – 03/15 | no | shotgun | Common goose hunt in Iceland. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) monitors populations. Breeds in wetlands and coastal areas. No large predators, limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, strict bag limits, Environment Agency oversight |
| Mallard Season Iceland | 09/01 – 03/15 | no | shotgun | Most common duck species in Iceland. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) monitors populations. No large predators in Iceland, very limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, strict bag limits, Environment Agency oversight |
| American Mink Season Iceland | year-round | no | rifle, trap | Invasive species, year-round hunting encouraged. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) actively promotes control. Mink threatens native bird populations. No large predators in Iceland, very limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, no closed season, rifle and trapping permitted, Environment Agency oversight |
| Common Eider Season Iceland | 09/01 – 12/15 | no | shotgun | Drake only hunting permitted. Umhverfisráðuneytið (Environment Agency) protects breeding colonies. Eider ducks are culturally significant in Iceland (eiderdown harvesting). No large predators, limited species diversity · Hunting permit required, drake only, strict bag limits, breeding colonies protected, Environment Agency oversight |
Note: Summary from the HuntKit hunting seasons database (as of 2026-08-02). Seasons may vary regionally and change at short notice — the official regulations of the respective country/state prevail. Not legal advice.
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