As hunting season for most grouse species started in Finland on Saturday, wildlife officials called on hunters to exercise restraint in shooting the chicken-like wildfowl.
"The bird population in each local area should be taken into account when hunting and a moderate amount of prey should be kept in mind," the Finnish Wildlife Agency said in a statement.
Hunting season for capercaillie, black grouse and hazel grouse, which begins on 10 September, usually lasts for three months in most parts of Finland.
However the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry may shorten the season if populations are considered low. Hunting times vary by region, municipality and fowl species.
Willow grouse population shrinking except in far north
According to the agency, grouse populations are stable in most parts of the country.
"Grouse nesting has been successful in most of the country and the long-term development of bird populations has mainly been stable," said Senior Planning Officer Matti Kervinen in a Wildlife Agency press release.
Hazel grouse stocks have been mostly stable in southern Finland, but slightly declining in the southeast and north. The willow grouse population has decreased significantly in recent decades, except in northern Lapland.
The heavily built grouse, which also include ptarmigan and partridges, are part of the Galliform genus, which also includes chickens and turkeys.
Hunting of most types of waterfowl began in August, and for other wildfowl such as pheasants on 1 September. Hunting of elk and deer has also been permitted in most areas since the beginning of September, but typically does not begin in earnest until later in the autumn.