Number of cartridges fired while hunting in 2021 (Experimental statistics publication)

During calendar year 2021, approximately 2.6 million shotgun cartridges were fired while hunting, of which more than one third (37 %) were lead-free. Amount of fired rifle cartridges was approximately 620 000, of which just over a quarter (27%) were lead-free.

• A total of 2 620 000 shotgun cartridges were fired
• 980 000 of fired shotgun cartridges were lead-free
• A total of 620 000 rifle cartridges were fired
• 170 000 of fired rifle cartridges were lead-free

The estimates are based on data collected in the Natural Resources Institute Finland's hunting statistics survey. The survey was sent to 7 500 hunters in early 2022, of which 58% responded. The sample was drawn from the hunter register from among hunters who had paid the game management fee for 2021. The methodology is described in the quality report of the hunting statistics.

The estimate was published as an experimental statistic on a one-off basis, as information on the use of cartridges is not to be included as a permanent part of the data content of the hunting statistics. Experimental statistics describe new areas of phenomena, use new types of data, or are based on new calculation methods. Read more about experimental statistics on Statistics Finland's website (in Finnish).