Sociodemographic analysis of hunters’ preferences: a Greek Hunting Club perspective

Abstract

Knowledge of hunters’ behaviour is critical for the proper management of hunting. The preferences and sociodemographic characteristics of a Greek hunting community, the Megara Hunting Club, were therefore investigated through a questionnaire survey. Club members were mostly less than 50 years old with a family, mainly self-employed, farmers or private employees of secondary education and mostly having medium or higher income. All income classes preferred local over national licences, although the lower class did so in higher proportions. Megara hunters pursued the local small game, for which they also searched elsewhere. They were strongly attached to hunting as a sport, except for the poorest who hunted for subsistence. Furthermore, local hunters spent annually on average 58.3 days and € 1764.6, with the middle-aged, highly educated or wealthier hunters being the most dedicated to hunting in terms of both time and money. Considering the ongoing Greek debt crisis, an increase in the demand of local game a...