As described in this article, a successful seal hunt depends heavily on your marksmanship. You should be able to deliver quick hits to a 2-inch target at 150 yards. And remember; it is not a skill until you can repeat it.  

Some years ago we asked the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries if foreigners needed any special license to hunt seals in Norway.  They do not. The regular permit is enough also for foreigners. However, before you are issued a license, you have to perform a shooting test. This test is the standard requirement for all who will hunt big game in Norway and is pretty easy: Hit a diameter of ca 30 centimeters with five rounds from 100 meters distance without any support for you rifle. You can shoot standing, on your knee or lying down - whatever you prefer. We will arrange for this test for those arriving to hunt seal.

Kind of obvious, this one. To get to where the seals live, and to retrieve after killing one, you will in most cases need a boat. Especially the grey seal is sometimes hard to get to, as it spends most of its time at the small weathered islets far out towards the great ocean.

Takes two to do the seal tango. One is needed in the boat while the other goes on land to shoot. This serves two purposes. First, the boat driver will draw the seals attention towards the boat so that the shooter can maneuver into his FFP undetected. Secondly, the boat driver must set full speed ahead after the shot to secure the seal before it sinks. The sinking can occur a few seconds or a few minutes after the shot depending on several factors (we´ll write an article about it soon).

Heavy winds are the seal hunters´ worst nightmare. If the wind is more than around 5-6 meters per second, you can normally forget to hunt the grey seal which is located furthest out. This is both due to difficulties with driving the boat and locating seals in high waves, and because a seals head will bounce too much in the waves to allow a good shot. Seal hunting can for sure be a dangerous activity.

Where can I find the seals in the different seasons? How can I get to the hunting grounds safely without hitting any of the insidious underwater rocks and destroy my boat and propeller? When can I find the seals on the islets rather than in the sea? How do I take care of the meat and preserve the skin? What to do if everything goes to hell? Knowledge and experience are your best friends, and your best asset is the ability to improvise.