North Savo district court on Monday handed 26 men suspended prison sentences, hunting bans, or fines in what police have called Finland's largest poaching trial.
The crimes mainly occurred in Lapinlahti, North Savo, between 2019 and 2023.
A total of 31 people faced charges in the case.
According to the charges, the poachers were suspected of killing protected animals, including three wolves, six lynxes, and a wolverine, as well as shooting several protected birds, such as whooper swans and goshawks.
The court issued conditional prison sentences, fines, as well as hunting bans.
The longest sentence imposed was an 18-month suspended one for a 60-year-old defendant. Five charges were dismissed.
Prosecutors had brought charges for 14 serious hunting offences, three cases of gross concealment of illegal game, three hunting offences, five environmental protection violations, three weapons offences and one weapons violation.
The defendants ranged in age from 24 to 75, and included a former local councillor, who resigned when the charges came to light.
