Photo Credit: Teksti ja kuvat: Mari Lohisalo 22.12.2025
The car turns onto Vääräjärventie Road in the northern part of Posio. There are no onlookers in sight, only a few occasional reindeer lazily glance at the passing car. After a while, a sign in the shape of a bear looms on the side of the road. I turn into the yard – I have arrived at the Erauspojan wonderland. At the end of the red yard building, there is a real wonderland: a huge collection of hunting memorabilia. The sight is startling when I enter the dark, windowless room, flick the light switch and find myself staring into the open mouth of a bear. The moose named Sibelius, Beethoven and Mozart look at the visitor from the wall of the room. In addition, the room contains bears, foxes and other domestic forest beasts, as well as countless different antlers.
The owner of the place, Esko Halme, has shot over 400 moose. He says he has been collecting hunting memorabilia for over 50 years.
– Over 2,000 antlers have been here at their best. Each antler would have its own story, but I haven’t had time to write a memoir, even though many have encouraged me to do so, he says.
There are many hunters in Halme’s family and more than ten bear hunters.
– It’s 100 meters from Mummola’s corner to the place where a bear was shot over a hundred years ago. Bear hunting has been in our family’s blood ever since, Halme laughs.
Encounter with a bear
Every memory in the room has a story attached to it, and Halme remembers them all. The wildest story is related to an encounter with a bear – the one standing in the corner of the room on its hind legs. The memory of the encounter is the long and deep scars on the forester’s thigh, even though more than 20 years have passed.
– The bear retired me in Salla Naruska in 2003, but ended up here stuffed. The story is exciting and gripping. I can only imagine what it feels like to be in the pitch-black forest in the
Photo Credit: Teksti ja kuvat: Mari Lohisalo 22.12.2025
teeth of a bear.
– I saw with the light of a flashlight when the bear came galloping towards me. It knocked the lamp out of my hand. We were left in the darkness together. Then it grabbed me by the arm and threw me to the ground. My hand almost broke off: the doctor measured the wound to be 75 millimeters deep, Halme says.
He himself fell under the bear. His brother, who was further away, tried to get the animal into his scope. The rain, darkness and fear of hitting Esko made it difficult for his brother to aim. In the meantime, Halme himself had gotten the bear’s teeth into his thigh and felt that it was starting to get busy.
– Both fangs were through his leg and it felt like his leg was breaking. I shouted that I had to hurry or something bad would happen.
During the rush, my brother managed to shoot three times and with the third shot the bear fell on Halme. The rifle bullet finally stopped between the bear’s jaws.
A total of 217 stitches were placed on Halme, and the hospital stay lasted 1.5 months.
Trophy exhibitions and bear shows
A golden trophy medal hangs in several rooms of hunting memorabilia. Official trophy exhibitions have also been organised at the wonderland. In these, trophies are judged according to the international judging system and measurements are made according to the standards set out in it.
Trophy judging is largely based on measurements, but it also takes into account, for example, the symmetry of the antlers and the length ratios of the spines. This is not a competition between hunters to brag about themselves, but rather the measurements are used to gather information about the development of game populations. The size and quality of the antlers can tell you about the general condition of the animal and the state of the population.
In addition to the exhibitions, many people have tasted bear meat for the first time in their lives at the wonderland. Halme recalls that the show was held for eight years. Many have been hesitant to taste bear, but for the brave ones it has offered a completely new kind of taste experience.
– Many people think that bear meat is better than deer meat.
Photo Credit: Teksti ja kuvat: Mari Lohisalo 22.12.2025
One more surprise
Finally, we peek into the host’s lounge and I’m amazed for the second time. A long row of different-colored rosettes runs around the walls and the bookshelf is full of award trophies. The rosettes and some of the trophies are awards from dog shows. There are still about a dozen Karelian Bear Dogs from Erauspojan’s kennel in the yard enclosures. Halme received the rest of the trophies himself. In sports circles, he is remembered as a middle-distance runner from the 70s.
From Erauspojan’s yard and lounge, you can see that the host has been involved in many things. The racing fields and bear hunting are behind us, but Halme’s essence still has the same enthusiasm for doing things.
Erauspojan’s wonderland does not have official opening hours, but guests are warmly welcomed if you call in advance and make an appointment.
FULL ARTICLE: Erauspojan ihmepaikka on tarinoiden ja metsästysmuistojen aarreaitta