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Hunting is one of the main uses associated with land which, in the current context, has a strong economic significance for rural areas. This work generates knowledge that can be useful for designing strategies that favour the economic dynamisation of rural areas, in a context of population loss and scarce economic diversification. In this sense and based on the results of a survey of hunters (N = 1662), the objectives of the work are first to analyse the territorial distribution and abundance of big game species in Spain and secondly, to examine the existence of correlations, between hunters' income, hunters’ gender and preferences for certain big game species. This analysis is based on primary and secondary sources and its characteristics are explained in the methodology section. Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics were used, specifically the chi-square contingency test, which allows us to determine the relationship of dependence between two variables. We found that female hunters showed greater interest than their male counterparts in hunting big game species, and the same interest was found in hunters with higher income level regardless of their gender. Our results may help to design and develop socio-economic strategies related to supply and demand hunting activities.

Paleontological data from Palaeolithic sites in the Transbaikal region are frequently interpreted from the viewpoint of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. This research describes faunal material from one of the largest Initial Upper Palaeolithic settlements in Transbaikalia Podzvonkaya and the general characteristics of ancient human hunting activity there. The archaeological context of the faunal remains (located near hearths and in the kitchen midden) indicates the bones at the site are kitchen waste. The species composition indicates which species Podzvonkaya's inhabitants preferred to hunt. The largest number of remains belongs to horse, argali, bison, and Mongolian gazelle—animals that prefer open steppe and dry‐steppe landscapes. The results of a spore‐and‐pollen analysis of Podzvonkaya deposits reveal the domination of grass flora. The Tamir River valley could have been the habitat of the main target species, and ancient people probably hunted in the territory within the valley and in the valley's vicinity. Intraregional correlation with data on the species composition of the large mammals within other Palaeolithic remains of the Western Transbaikal region supports a conclusion regarding the identity of fauna at the final stage of the late Neopleistocene. Data from sites belonging to the same culture and period reveal identical prey lists, with certain preferences explained by site type (ie, long‐term base settlement or short‐term hunting camp). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to evaluate the current legal situation of the hunting activity through the main legal regulations in force, as well as direct entities or executors that intervene in the use and exploitation of hunting resources, considering the ecological aspects and their contribution to the legal system through the sociological or empirical method. This was formulated on the basis of the need for the main legal regulations in force, for the management plans of the hunting activity. The elements that sustain the research from the conceptual point of view were exposed, focusing its attention in the analysis of the main legal regulations in force, making a critical valuation of them and of the environmental strategies, as base of the legislative sustenance. All this in order to guarantee the insertion, adequate and systematic functioning of the environmental legal dimension in their integrated management programs. Finally, conclusions were reached that generalize the achieved results, which contribute to the fact that, in spite of the fact that there are no legal regulations for hunting activity, the effectiveness of environmental policies is required, as well as a structural and dynamic legal system that has the real capacity to comply with and enforce the norms or policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing body of literature concerning the hunted wild game meat (HWGM) supply chain is mainly focused on the final consumer, while little is known about upstream production processes. Even though the hunter plays a central role here, it is not well understood how hunters themselves perceive their role in the various phases of the production process. The present study explores Italian hunters’ perception of the HWGM supply chain and compares it to their perception towards the conventional farmed meat supply chain. We distinguish several phases of this production process and find that the final phase related to on-site game dressing is considered problematic, perhaps because hunters perceive themselves as less skilled than professional butchers. The results, in fact, show that hunters prefer hunted products over farmed meat, but that they consider hunted wild boar meat less safe compared to farmed pork. Findings from this study provide a rare glimpse from the inside of the supply chain and reveals the needs for a broad risk assessment analysis on the Italian game meat supply chain. Considering the development of the Italian emerging market of the HWGM, our results also highlight the relevance of training activities on hunters in order to increase the safety and quality of the final product.

Hunted wild game meat (HWGM) has a complete nutritional profile, and its environmental impact is lower than farmed meat. However, HWGM derives from hunting, which often relates to consumers' ethical concerns. This review aims to clarify which variables are linked to consumers' perceptions and attitudes toward HWGM. Results highlight that the body of literature about this topic is growing, especially in Europe and U.S. Moreover, gender and residence seem to be good predictors of consumers' perceptions and attitudes toward HWGM. Furthermore, some positive drivers were detected. The positive attitude toward hunting and familiarity with hunting resulted to be linked to HWGM consumption. Conversely, food safety consumers' concerns represent one of the main barriers. Finally, the seasonality of the product and the relative lack of HWGM market supply represent barriers to its consumption. Our findings may assist stakeholders in defining targeted marketing strategies and policies. • Hunted wild game meat (HWGM) is gaining attention as an alternative animal protein. • Variables related to consumers' perceptions and attitudes toward HWGM are explored. • HWGM is positively perceived as a healthy and environmentally friendly. • The barriers of consumption are low availability and perception of low food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting activities can affect game species in several ways; however, indirect effects of hunting on non-game species have received less attention than direct effects on game species, even though such potential effects could be crucial in some situations. There is ongoing concern that the critically endangered Florida panther P uma concolor coryi may be influenced by hunting activity, in terms of changes in panther resource selection and distribution. Nonetheless, understanding the potential effects of hunting activity on the resource selection of this wide-ranging species has proven difficult, because of the relatively fine-scale nature of variation in hunting activity and potentially confounding variables regarding intra-annual variation in hunting activity and hydrology. Here, we leverage hierarchical Bayesian models (conditional mixed logit models) and new data sources to assess the effects of hunting activity at a daily temporal scale via the use of off-road recreation vehicles ( ORVs) on variation in resource selection and distribution of panthers, and we contrast these potential effects to variation in standing ground water, an alternative factor hypothesized to drive variation in panther resource selection. Across a 14-year dataset spanning 110 radio-telemetered panthers and over 30 000 panther locations, we found that heightened ORV use by hunters has a small, but statistically significant effect on panther resource selection, but no effect on panther distribution near trails. In contrast, intra-annual variation in standing ground water generally had stronger and consistent effects on resource selection and on distribution of panthers near recreational trails. Our results provide slightly different conclusions than earlier results on this topic, which are likely driven by our use of more data on panthers, information on hydrology, more quantitative information on hunter activity in this region, and the scale of our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities such as industry, agriculture, and daily life are related to metal pollution of the environment. Places known of the highest impact are fishponds where intensive fish farming is believed to input a significant amount of various elements to water. Additionally, many studies suspect wetland hunting activity of water lead pollution. The present paper aims to check if hunting is a significant source of lead (Pb) in water as well as to study the temporal trends of numerous parameters (pH, SEC, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4+, HCO , SO , Cl, NO , F) in ponds ( n = 48) and inflow ( n = 24) waters near Zator in southern Poland, Europe. Most concentrations were measured with ion chromatography and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead concentrations in pond waters were low and found not to be linked with hunting activity, as well as they did not differ from the ones found in the inflow water. Moreover, it could be stated that activities led on ponds did not enrich rivers in the studied ions and elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Authors critically consider the usual fox management in Italy and suggest a new strategy concerning the hunting activity and population control. The following topics are discussed: a) improvement of the knowledge about the geographical and ecological distribution of foxes using the information furnished by a specific national atlas; b) population dynamics monitoring mainly obtained from the bag records and the cheking of breeding dens in selected sampling areas; c) hunting methods and season; d) guide-lines for the policy of fox control based on an up-to-date review about the effects of fox predation on game and the effectiveness of the different methods carried on. Riassunto Gli Autori esaminano criticamente il tipo di gestione cui viene sottoposta la Volpe Vulpes vulpes in Italia e suggeriscono una nuova strategia per ciò che concerne il prelievo venatorio ed il controllo delle popolazioni. In particolare vengono affrontati i seguenti temi: a) miglioramento delle conoscenze sulla distribuzione geografica ed ecologica della specie attraverso la redazione di uno specifico atlante nazionale; b) monitoraggio della dinamica delle popolazioni, ottenuto soprattutto con l'analisi dei carnieri ed il conteggio delle tane riproduttive in aree campione; c) tempi e modalità del prelievo venatorio; d) analisi delle attuali conoscenze circa l'impatto della predazione della Volpe sulla selvaggina e conseguenti indicazioni sull'opportunità e efficacia delle operazioni di controllo delle popolazioni volpine anche in relazione ai metodi diretti ed indiretti utilizzati.

The growing body of literature concerning the hunted wild game meat (HWGM) supply chain is mainly focused on the final consumer, while little is known about upstream production processes. Even though the hunter plays a central role here, it is not well understood how hunters themselves perceive their role in the various phases of the production process. The present study explores Italian hunters' perception of the HWGM supply chain and compares it to their perception towards the conventional farmed meat supply chain. We distinguish several phases of this production process and find that the final phase related to on-site game dressing is considered problematic, perhaps because hunters perceive themselves as less skilled than professional butchers. The results, in fact, show that hunters prefer hunted products over farmed meat, but that they consider hunted wild boar meat less safe compared to farmed pork. Findings from this study provide a rare glimpse from the inside of the supply chain and reveals the needs for a broad risk assessment analysis on the Italian game meat supply chain. Considering the development of the Italian emerging market of the HWGM, our results also highlight the relevance of training activities on hunters in order to increase the safety and quality of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]