From wild deer to reindeer
In the distant past, when herds of wild deer would traverse through Sompio, they were captured using hunting pits, along with some other methods. Then wild deer disappeared, and in their place came semi-domesticated livestock, bred from Norway’s wild deer, known to us as reindeer.You can see reindeer anywhere in Sompio
The Sami people have always made their living from Lappish nature. They fished, hunted, gathered berries and mushrooms, but mostly they made their living from deer. In the distant past, when herds of wild deer would traverse through Sompio, they were captured using hunting pits, along with some other methods. Adventurer Samuli Paulaharju described Sompio’s wild deer herds in his book Sompio written in 1939:
“It was a majestic sight, when the deer herd moved through the wild land. Hundreds of antlers swayed, hooves clicked as the deer with their long legs loitered. And then, when something alarmed them, off they leapt into the wind.”
Then wild deer disappeared, and in their place came semi-domesticated livestock, bred from Norway’s wild deer, known to us as reindeer. Nowadays you can see reindeer anywhere in Sompio. Even though they spend most of the year living in nature wild and free, every reindeer is owned by a reindeer herder. During twice yearly reindeer round ups, all reindeer are gathered into an enclosure, where they are separated according to their owner. Calves are marked in the summer round up and registered with the correct owner. In the late autumn/winter round up, reindeer are separated according to their fate, which for many is the slaughterhouse. In the enclosures, reindeer are counted to see if any are missing and are then released to continue their wanderings in the Lappish wilderness until the next round-up.
