The seasonal land use is divided into five seasons, which in turn are divided into two categories according to function and grazing intensity. Spring pasture is areas used by reindeer in the spring. Spring grazing areas are divided into two categories: Spring pasture 1 – Calving area and early spring land. The parts of the spring area that are grazed early and where most of the doe herd remains during the calving and branding period. This includes auxiliary calving land. Spring pasture 2 – Bull reindeer pasture land and other spring land, where bull reindeer and yearlings remain during the calving period. Calves with does may also come here later in spring. The use of pasture will vary from year to year within the same area. The classification system is applicable to reindeer husbandry all over the country. The annual variations in factors such as weather and pasture conditions means that the delimitation of the seasons has to be somewhat broad and approximate.

The reindeer grazing areas where Sami reindeer husbandry takes place covers approx. 40% of the land area of Norway, extending from Finnmark in the north to Engerdal, Hedmark in the south. Sami reindeer husbandry also takes place in Trollheimen on the basis of a special legal arrangement. Non-sami reindeer husbandry takes place in the mountain areas in Southern Norway, based on agreements with landowners.