BROWN BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY
Martinselkonen, Eastern Finland close to Russian border
Martinselkonen Nature Reserve is situated in Suomussalmi municipality in the vicinity of the Russian border. It is ca. 270 km distant from Oulu and ca. 150 km from Kuusamo, 180 km from Kuhmo.
Description
For Brown Bear photography Finnature recommends Martinselkonen site close to Suomussalmi by Russian border. There can be over 20 bears and 8 cubs on best nights! Normally Brown Bears wake up around mid-April. Usually there is still plenty of snow at that time, so it is possible to photograph bears in snowy environment until early May.
Local warmer weather conditions in spring effect on bears hibernation. As they are not full hibernators, they can be woken easily. First bears can be seen at feeding site in the end of March. In early May bears forage voraciously. After the long hibernation they have consumed fat considerably, but their furry coats are in excellent shape and they are very photographable in spring
In the end of May, normally in the last week, bears begin their rutting season. There won´t be that many bears by the feeding sites compared with months outside rutting period, but bears are very active. At feeding sites it is possible to see when adult males assume dominance. These situations can sometimes be led to large aggressions between individuals.
Every year several copulations take place at feeding area and under ideal circumstances it is possible to get astonishing images. As to mating between browns there seem to be individual fluctuations and the latest paring has been seen in the first week of July. What comes to mating season the end of May and the whole June is good time for photography.
After rutting season bears forage again voraciously. There may be occasional aggressions between adult males, but these situations appear less and less during July. At this time of the year there are normally many bears up to 20 individuals or more including cubs during dusk and dawn.
Females with cubs normally show up to feeding sites during June, although there is no specific period of time when cubs emerge to follow their mother in search of food at feeding area. First females and cubs have arrived in the end of May. In some years they have appeared only in the beginning of July. July and Early August seem to be best time to photograph females with small cubs.
Target species: Apart from Brown Bears the forests offer good opportunities for photographing genuine woodland species such as woodpeckers, owls and gallinaceous birds. Martinselkonen is also good place for many eastern rarities such as the Siberian Jay and Rustic Bunting.
There is feeder in lodges garden and species like Bullfinch, Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are regular visitors there. Also tame Red Squirrels come to this feeder.
Around the Martinselkonen forests Finnature have hung nest boxes for Tengmalm's, Pygmy and Ural Owls, and for some passerines such as Siberian Tit and Pied Flycatcher.
Special conditions
There is about 2 km walk through forest to the main feeding place, so reasonable fitness is required. One need to be prepared to be in the hide for fairly long time from
17:00 pm until 7:00 am. However, it is possible to sleep in hide as well.
Mosquitos can be plentiful in June- July, but they are not a problem while you are in the hide.
In pro-hides there are no proper toilets, but buckets work as toilet.
Operation time
Brown Bear photography: 20 April - 10 August
Hides: There are currently 6 different pro-hides at Martinselkonen.
One small pro-hide in forest for max 2 photographers
Another pro-hide in forest for max 3 photographers
One pro-hide by a small bog area for max 3 photographers
Another pro-hide by a small bog area for max 3 photographers
One pro-hide by a small pond for max 3 photographers
Another pro-hide by a small pond for max 3 photographers
The photography site on a bog is located about 200 meters from the main feeding site.
The older pro-hide on a small bog area is for max 3 photographers. Another pro-hide is located 100 meters distant from the older one and max 3 photographers fit in this hide as well. There are 6 camera holes in both pro-hides. Here you can take images of bears in a wider area with old growth forest in the background. As to light conditions this site is better compared with forest location.
In early spring boggy area is the last places where snow cover remains longest. This is the best site for Brown Bear images with snow. With luck there are chances to photograph White-tailed Eagles at this site, on best days even 4 at the same time!
The newest pro-hide is located by a small pond is in an open boggy area. The distance from the pond to the nearby forest is about 30 meters, so this site is good for photography as to light conditions. Three photographers can share this new pro-hide. This pro-hide is located along the route that bears use when they come to feeding sites. The distance to the two bigger hide cabins is about 1 km. There is only 0,5 km walk from the car to this site.
At the photographing site in forest there is one pro-hide for max 2 persons and the other one is for max 3 photographers. These pro-hides are located about 50 meters distant from main feeding site in conifer forest with both pine and spruce trees. In the smaller pro-hide there are 4 camera holes and in the bigger one there are 6 camera holes for photography. The visibility can be up to 40-50 meters.
Nowadays they use dog food to feed bears in front of the pro-hides. Food is put out to these locations with pro-hides only when there are photographers in order to preserve terrain around
the pro-hides. Dog food will not show in photos. It is possible to change the position of these pro-hides according to photographers wishes.
If you are interested in this option, you need to arrive latest by 15:00 pm in order to have your early dinner before leaving to the bear hide after 16:00 pm. First bears usually show up quickly after you have entered to hide, so there is plenty of light for photographing.
Bears might show up to the carcasses sometimes even earlier than that and you need to have enough time to get to bear hide and settle down. You can leave from the bear hide about 07:00 am next morning as bears might stay around the area till 06:00am in the morning and you will need to wait some time till they have disappeared to the surrounding forest. Local guide will come to give you sign when it is ok to leave the hide.
Lenses: In forest bears come very close, so there you can use anything from wide angle lenses up to 500 mm tele objective. 70- 200 mm lens is good choice as well.
In bog or by the pond hide you probably don´t need wide-angle lens, but 70- 200 mm and longer tele objectives are recommended.
Tripod: There is no need to bring tripod. However, you may bring your tripod head with you. You can attach your tripod head in board in hides. Also bean bags are available in hides.
Prices
Acccomodation at Martinselkonen Lodge:
| Single room | 35 Eur / day |
| Double room | 60 Eur / day |
| Apartment for four | 60 Eur / day / 2 persons 80 Eur / day / 3 persons 90 Eur / day / 4 persons |
| Single room with HB | 52 Eur / day / person |
| Double room with HB | 47 Eur / day / person |
Pro-hides
One night in a professional hide for two persons totals EUR 200 per person including assistance of local bear guide, sleeping bag & pillow and light outdoor meal.
If two persons share one pro-hide, the price is EUR 160 per person. Pro-hide as hides are spacious enough for 2 or 3 photographers – and there is enough space to sleep when needed.
The price includes transportation to the closest point of the bear hide cabin and back to the Lodge, guiding by English speaking local 'bear' guide, dinner on the arrival and snacks /outdoor meal for the night in the bear hide and proper breakfast at the Lodge next morning.
Accommodation
Refurbished former frontier guard station provides clean and comfortable accommodation. Accommodation is available in 14 rooms for a total of 26 people.
Downstairs: room for max. 2 occupants with en suite bathroom facilities and shower
one single room with en suite bathroom facilities and shower
A new annex with 7 en suite twin rooms
Upstairs: two separate rooms for max. 4 occupants (a former family flat about 45 sq m) with en suite bathroom facilities including shower and kitchenette. One entrance and a door separating these two rooms.
room for max. 2 occupants with en suite bathroom facilities and shower
room for max. 2 occupants with en suite bathroom facilities and shower
one single room with en suite bathroom facilities and shower
There is a shower in sauna facilities upstairs for the visitors who don’t have en suite bathroom with a shower.
Former family flat downstairs is equipped with a dinner set and coffee service, electric cooker / stove, microwave oven, fridge, coffee maker, TV, and radio.
Distances
The distance between Oulu and Martinselkonen Wilderness Centre is about 270 km.
The distance between Kuusamo and Martinselkonen Wilderness Centre is about 150 km.
The distance between Kajaani and Martinselkonen Wilderness Centre in Suomussalmi is about 170 km.
Transfer from Oulu, Kuusamo and Kajaani airports to Martinselkonen Wilds Centre are possible.
Transfers
Transfer from Kuusamo to Martinselkonen
- 80 Eur / 1 person / one way
- 60 Eur / 2 persons / one way
- 50 Eur / 3 persons / one way
- 40 Eur / 4 persons / one way
Transfer from Kajaani airport to Martinselkonen
- 90 Eur / 1 person / one way
- 70 Eur / 2 persons / one way
- 60 Eur / 3 persons / one way
- 50 Eur / 4 persons / one way
Transfer from Oulu airport to Martinselkonen
(Oulu – Martinselkonen – Oulu ca. 520 km)
- 140 Eur / 1 person / one way
- 90 Eur / 2 persons / one way
- 80 Eur / 3 persons / one way
- 70 Eur / 4 persons / one way
Group size: Min 2 and max 12 persons
Meeting point: Oulu airport/ Kajaani airport/ Kuusamo airport/ Martinselkonen Wilds Center
Methods of payment
1.If you wish to pay by credit card, please fax your credit card details to +358 8 381 914 or call to +358 45 129 4264. In this case please advise credit card number, expiry date/ year and security number (three last digits/numbers from back side of your card where your signature is)
2. Bank transfer is also possible. When payment will be settled by either of the above methods, you will receive electronic Confirmation of Order by e-mail. Please take your Confirmation of order with you. Payment will be settled after the trip.
3.Payment is possible in cash on site.
Terms and conditions of booking
Brown Bear photography is so popular that reservations should be made as far ahead as possible, preferably one year in advance. This quarantees the best dates for your particular trip. Finnature will accommodate reservations made at shorter notice to the best of its ability.
1.Credit card
If you wish to pay by credit card, please fax your credit card details to +358 8 381 914 or call to +358 45 129 4264. In this case please advise credit card number, expiry date/ year and security code number (three last digits/numbers from back side of your card where your signature is)
2.Bank transfer is also possible
When payment will be settled by either of the above methods, you will receive electronic Confirmation of Order / Confirmation invoice by e-mail. Please take your Confirmation of order with you.
Flights to Oulu:
Flights to Kajaani:
Flights to Kuusamo:
Driving instructions to Martinselkonen:
From Oulu drive along road 22 till PALTAMO and turn to road E63 towards SUOMUSSALMI. Turn to road number 843 and drive along this road till crossing saying RASINVAARA. You should see a sign saying MARTINSELKONEN. Turn to the right and drive along road PIRTTIVAARANTIE till you see MARTINSELKONEN LODGE on right hand side.
Weather
Please visit these web sites for weather in Finland:
Please visit this site for different cities / locations in Finland:
Field clothing
Normal outdoor clothing is recommended. The weather can be mixed, so bring waterproofs and a warm sweater. We recommend to dress in layers, because it can be quite chilly during the night and in early hours in the morning. However, there are sleeping bags in hides. Stout walking boots are recommended.
Some instructions for Brown Bear photographers
Please notice that smoking is strictly forbidden on the way to hides and in hides.
Smoking is prohibited also inside the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre.
Bears are not very shy, but when you communicate with your fellow photographer,
try to whisper, never speak loudly.
Once you have entered the hide in afternoon, you are not aloud the come out before the next morning when local guide will give you sign that it is ok to come out.
It is ok to change lenses during the photography. Please do it when bears are little further away. They might be scared if you do it quickly when they are nearby and especially if there comes some noice from the change.
