The highest concentration of reindeer held as livestock is found on the Finnmark plateau, where Samis for centuries have been moving their herds back and forth from the inland to the coast. While there are reindeer held as livestock further south, here there are also wild reindeer that are subject to strict hunting regulations.

The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer living in the Northern hemisphere and both male and female have antlers which they grow every year. They feed on grass, leaves, herbs, reindeer lichen and even mushrooms, digging through the snow during winter.

The male normally weighs around 70-150 kilograms, while the female is smaller at 40-100 kilograms. The calving season is April to June.