Metsästää

Metsästää is the Finnish verb meaning "to hunt" or "to pursue game." It denotes the activity of seeking and capturing wild animals for meat, population management, or sport. In Finland, hunting is typically carried out in forests or natural areas and involves skills such as tracking, stalking, and safe handling of weapons. The activity is regulated by law, including licensing, hunting seasons, permitted species, and bag limits, with safety rules emphasized for both the hunter and others in the environment.

Metsästää is a regular Finnish verb. In present tense the forms are: minä metsästän, sinä metsästät, hän/metsästää, me metsästämme, te metsästätte, he metsästävät. In past tense the forms are: minä metsästin, sinä metsästit, hän metsästi, me metsästimme, te metsästitte, he metsästivät. The verb also appears in compound tenses with the auxiliary olla, such as olen metsästänyt (I have hunted). Related nominal forms include metsästys (hunting, the activity) and metsäläinen? Noting the common noun metsähan? The standard related noun for a person who hunts is metsäästäjä, i.e., metsästää + -jä, forming metsänsästäjä in some contexts.

Etymology and usage notes: metsästää derives from the Finnish word metsän/metsä meaning "forest," reflecting the traditional forest-based practice of hunting. In addition to recreational hunting, the term appears in legal and ecological contexts, such as wildlife management, game populations, and conservation discussions. Related terms include metsästys, metsänsästäjä, and the adjective metsästetty for hunted game.