Wild reindeer
Scientific name: Rangifer tarandus
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
Both sexes grow antlers (unusual among cervids), with males bearing larger, more elaborate racks. Coat is thick and brown to grey-brown in summer, paling to cream or white in winter; large hooves are distinctive.
Size and weight
Males 240–330 kg, 200–220 cm body length; females 120–180 kg, 180–210 cm body length.
Habitat
Wild reindeer inhabit open tundra, boreal forest edges, and alpine meadows across northern latitudes. They prefer areas with lichen-rich ground cover, ranging from sea level to high mountain plateaus above 2,000 m.
Distribution
Circumpolar distribution across arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America. Wild populations are now restricted to remote tundra regions of Scandinavia, Russia, and parts of Alaska and Canada.
Diet
Reindeer graze on grasses, sedges, and forbs in summer; in winter they depend heavily on lichen (especially Cladonia spp.), supplemented by dwarf willow and birch browse.
Behaviour
Primarily diurnal with crepuscular peaks; highly gregarious, moving in herds that can shift seasonally between summer and winter ranges. Males become territorial and aggressive during rut; movement is often rapid and unpredictable.
Hunting tips
Look for fresh tracks in snow or soft ground; pellet droppings are distinctive. Approach from downwind on open terrain using available rocks and low vegetation for cover; reindeer have excellent vision, so stillness and patience are critical. Glass distant herds and stalk slowly; they often pause to feed, offering windows for approach.
Carcass weight
This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 6 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.