Hunter Participation Research Articles

Hunters and Their Perceptions of Public Access: A View from Afield

AbstractDeclining hunter participation threatens cultural traditions and public support for conservation, warranting examination of the forces behind the downward trajectory. Access to lands for hunting, an often-cited reason for nonparticipation, may play a critical role in the retention and recruitment of hunters. Meeting the access needs of a diverse hunting constituency requires understanding how hunters use and perceive access opportunities, particularly public-access sites. Given that perceptions of access are entirely place based and degrade with time, traditional postseason survey methods may fail to adequately quantify the value of public access to the hunting constituency. To overcome the potential limitations of postseason surveys, we conducted on-site assessments of hunter perceptions of habitat quality, game abundance, ease of access, and crowding as well as whether the experience met the hunters' expectations and their likelihood to return to hunt. Over 3 y, we interviewed 3,248 parties of which 71.5% were hunting. Most parties (65.9%) reported having no private access within the region of Nebraska where they were interviewed. Parties (67.6%) were largely limited to two or fewer hunters, most of whom were adult males (84.3%) who were, on average, 41.2 y old. The perception of public-access sites was generally positive, but 43.1% of parties indicated that game abundance was below average despite 59.2% of parties seeing game and 37.3% harvesting at least one animal. Similar to other explorations of hunter satisfaction, we found game abundance, and in particular harvest success, had the most consistent relationship with hunter perception of public access. By surveying multiple types of hunters across sites that encompass a range of social and ecological conditions, we gained a broader understanding of how hunters perceive public access in real time, which will help to inform future management decisions to foster and improve public-access programs.

Managing the vanishing North American hunter: a novel framework to address declines in hunters and hunter-generated conservation funds

ABSTRACTAs long as the funding mechanism supporting state wildlife conservation relies heavily on hunter-generated funds, declines in hunter participation are a threat to the conservation of both game and nongame species. To address options to bolster wildlife agency profit from the sale of hunting licenses, we developed a stage-based, stochastic population model of a hunter population, and demonstrate its utility within a decision-making framework to inform state wildlife agency decisions. We evaluated hypothetical youth and adult recruitment-focused outreach programs over 10 years to increase license sale profit. Using our model as the core of a decision analysis, state agencies can set hunter population or license profit targets, and evaluate management actions designed to achieve those objectives. We expect that our approach will provide a valuable framework for anticipating the future of hunting and hunting-generated conservation funds, and can be extended to other user groups, including target shooters and anglers.

Hunter perceptions toward chronic wasting disease: Implications for harvest and management

ABSTRACTPrevious human dimension research has reported negative perceptions among hunters toward Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and disease‐related regulations that may limit hunter participation, reduce harvest, and generally complicate management. During 2013, we surveyed 1,524 Maryland, USA, deer (Odocoileus spp.) hunters from 3 counties of varying proximity to the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area (CWDMA) regarding hunter behavioral changes due to CWD. We linked responses to each individual's harvest history to examine hunter retention, potential harvest reduction related to CWD presence and management, and degree to which distance from the disease affected behavior. Overall, 1.1% of respondents claimed to have stopped hunting because of CWD; however, 47.1% of those respondents continued to register deer after disease discovery, resulting in a true decrease in retention of no >0.6%. In the county containing the CWDMA, we observed the greatest percentage of negative perception (22.6%) and greatest reduction in harvest reportedly related to CWD (7.0%). In an adjacent county west of the CWDMA, we observed fewer negative perceptions (16.8%) and no reduction in harvest in response to disease discovery. Similar negative perceptions were reported in the county 200 km southeast of the CWDMA (14.1%), but also resulted in no reduction in harvest. Negative hunter perceptions did not seem to be directly related with hunter behavior. Behavioral shifts due to CWD were localized at the county scale and had less impact on annual harvest than normal year‐to‐year stochastic variability. Upon initial detection of CWD, we recommend implementing necessary protocols for disease management with the understanding that hunter perceptions may have negligible impact on harvest management. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

Harvest dynamics and annual survival of mallards and grey ducks

ABSTRACTWe examined how hunter behavior, environmental covariates, and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and grey duck (A. superciliosa) population indices affected per capita harvest, hunter effort (i.e., hours hunted), and hunter participation (i.e., license sales) between 1997 and 2012 in the Eastern Fish and Game Region of New Zealand. Additionally, we examined how total annual hunter effort and harvest affected annual survival and harvest rates (i.e., the proportion of the population that is harvested). Per capita harvest increased with hunter effort and bag limits; hunter effort decreased over time, but effort and participation increased with mallard population size. Juvenile harvest rates were greater than for adults and negatively associated with population size. The relationship between harvest regulations and harvest rates was inconsistent. The 44‐day seasons had greater juvenile harvest rates than the 57‐ and 72‐day seasons. Similarly, years with a 7‐bag limit had higher juvenile harvest rates than years with a 10‐bag limit. Hunter effort affected annual survival rates, especially for females. Alternatively or concordantly, hunter effort may be a surrogate for population size and thus, survival rate may have been density dependent. The relationship between harvest and density‐dependent mortality may in part be augmented by hunter behavior; fewer hunters hunted for fewer hours in years with relatively few birds. Our results suggest bag limits are more effective than season length at managing harvest; reducing bag limits to <2 birds/day from ≥7 could decrease harvest by as much as 50%. Furthermore, regulation consistency, better education, and enforcement of season regulations may improve harvest management; 58% of active hunters reported they shot mallards or grey ducks after the close of the 31‐day season, which accounted for 13% of total harvest. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Wildlife Management Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.

Emerging Trends in Midwest Bobwhite Culture

In the Southeastern United States, Breeding Bird Surveys that bobwhite populations have been declining at 3.8%/year over the last 3 decades. Declines have been attributed the cumulative effects of large-scale deterioration of quail habitat quality associated with advanced succession, intensive monoculture farming, and intensive timber management. Additional factors such as changing role of predation, expansion of red imported fire ants, and metapopulation processes may exacerbate declines. Declining bobwhite hunter participation, changing public values, and realignment of conservation emphases have diminished the emphasis on bobwhite management nationally. However, within the Southeast 3 states, Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina, have developed targeted private lands initiatives to enhance local and regional bobwhite habitats and populations. Additional opportunities exist for enhancing regional populations through broad avian conservation initiatives such as the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and Partners in Flight. Potential benefits from these regional efforts will be accrued only if greater value and emphases are placed on conservation of early successional habitats. As anthropogenic activities and natural successional processes influence regional usable space for bobwhite in the Southeast, established paradigms regarding relationships among predation, harvest, habitat management, and population dynamics may no longer be germane. Restoration of local and regional bobwhite populations will require a much greater understanding of bobwhite population processes at a mechanistic level across local and regional spatial scales.

Hunters' acceptability of the surveillance system and alternative surveillance strategies for classical swine fever in wild boar - a participatory approach.

BackgroundSurveillance measures can only be effective if key players in the system accept them. Acceptability, which describes the willingness of persons to contribute, is often analyzed using participatory methods. Participatory epidemiology enables the active involvement of key players in the assessment of epidemiological issues. In the present study, we used a participatory method recently developed by CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) to evaluate the functionality and acceptability of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) surveillance in wild boar in Germany, which is highly dependent on the participation of hunters. The acceptability of alternative surveillance strategies was also analyzed. By conducting focus group discussions, potential vulnerabilities in the system were detected and feasible alternative surveillance strategies identified.ResultsTrust in the current surveillance system is high, whereas the acceptability of the operation of the system is medium. Analysis of the acceptability of alternative surveillance strategies showed how risk-based surveillance approaches can be combined to develop strategies that have sufficient support and functionality. Furthermore, some surveillance strategies were clearly rejected by the hunters. Thus, the implementation of such strategies may be difficult.ConclusionsParticipatory methods can be used to evaluate the functionality and acceptability of existing surveillance plans for CSF among hunters and to optimize plans regarding their chances of successful implementation.

Guanaco hunting strategies in the northern plains of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

This article analyses the access to animal resources during the Holocene using the evidence from a key site – Las Vueltas 1, LV1–, localized in the Northern steppe of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). The contexts analysed from this site yielded at least 85 individuals of Lama guanicoe (guanaco) based on MNI counts: 41 on surface level, 37 in the 3rd occupation, 6 in the 2nd, and just 1 in the 1st. LV1 occupies a low aeolian dune between two lagoons bordered by Tertiary sandstone outcrops; it was interpreted as an appropriate space to capture, kill and process guanacos from the beginning of the Late Holocene. The most useful way to use this natural trap was to work in a communal strategy, implying the participation of several hunters. Furthermore, the site could have also been used for the capture of a single animal, or a reduced number of animals, as happened in the 2nd occupation. As far as the context of the 3rd occupation is concerned, it is proposed that this communal strategy may have been used at a larger scale, turning the site into a communal hunting area that we interpret as a “mass kill“ site. This hypothesis was supported by evidence such as the large amount of guanaco bone remains, the limited and specific range of the fauna assembled at the place, the catastrophic death pattern, the sex and age of hunted animals, a topography appropriate to ambush animals and the large number of fractured lithic points (when compared with other Fuegian sites). Certain conditions such as the topographic relief, hunting season, animal behaviour, social or political issues would have led hunter-gatherers to practice this kind of communal and mass hunting.

Back from the Brink: How Hunters Sustain Montana's Wildlife

Beginning with the gold rush era of the 1860s and culminating with the devastating droughts of the 1910s and 1930s, Montana's wildlife, and that of the entire nation, was in a perilous state and in need of a boost. This boost came from the introduction of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, or as it is commonly known, the Pittman–Robertson Act, in 1937. The program is based on a self-imposed and hunter-supported manufacturers excise tax. These funds, in conjunction with funds generated through Montana hunting permits, have brought Montana's wildlife back from the brink of destruction. The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship between hunter-supported expenditures by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks existed with hunter participation numbers and harvest numbers. It was hypothesized that there existed a positive relationship between the amount of hunter-related expenditures and the amount of hunter participation and harvest rates.

Unexpected and undesired conservation outcomes of wildlife trade bans—An emerging problem for stakeholders?

CITES regulates international trade with the goal of preventing over-exploitation, thus the survival of species are not jeopardized from trade practices; however it has been used recently in nontrade conservation measures. As an example, the US proposed to up-list polar bears under CITES Appendix I, despite that the species did not conform to the biological criteria. Polar bears were listed as ‘threatened’ under US ESA in 2008, in response to loss of sea-ice and warming temperatures. In Nunavut, where most of Canada’s polar bears are harvested, the resulting trade ban did not decrease total harvest after the ESA listing but reduced US hunter participation and the proportion of quotas taken by sport hunters from specific populations. Consequently, the import ban impacted livelihoods of Arctic indigenous communities with negative conservation — reduced tolerance for dangerous fauna and affected local participation in shared management initiatives. The polar bear may be the exemplar of an emerging problem: the use of trade bans in place of action for non-trade threats, e.g., climate change. Conservation prospects for this species and other climate-sensitive wildlife will likely diminish if the increasing use of trade bans to combat non-trade issues cause stakeholders to lose faith in participatory management.

Applying typology analyses to management issues: Deer harvest and declining hunter numbers

In both North America and Europe, deer populations are increasing and hunter participation is decreasing. This generates concern for our future ability to control deer populations. Information on hunter typologies can help ascertain which licensing regulations are the most useful for either deer population control or activating currently non-active hunters. We used latent class analyses to identify typologies among 1,820 active and non-active red deer hunters in Norway. We found that active hunters could be grouped into mixed visitors (77%), deer enthusiasts (13%), and solitary locals (10%) in regard to their motivation and approach to hunting and landowner acquaintances (47%), less involved locals (40%), and long-term visitors (13%) when considering access to hunting grounds. We found 2 typologies of non-active hunters: likely recruits (79%) and permanently gone (29%). Managers in areas with undesirably dense deer populations should be more flexible in the way hunting is organized and promoted to motivate a diverse group of hunters. We recommend a zone-based management plan based on key factors determining hunter participation, whichinourstudy includedlocation ofresidence, interest introphies,willingnesstopay, willingness to travel, sociality, landowner relations, and leasing agreements. 2014 The Wildlife Society.

The future of hunting: an age-period-cohort analysis of deer hunter decline

This paper employs a cohort analysis to examine the recent decline in the number of deer hunters in the State of Wisconsin and considers the implications of hunter decline for wildlife management and conservation. North American natural resource management strategies currently depend on hunters and anglers to fund habitat conservation, wildlife management, and land protection through license fees and special taxes on hunting equipment. However, hunter participation is declining across the United States, challenging the long-term viability of this approach. We undertake an age-period-cohort (APC) approach to analyze hunter participation rates and introduce an APC method to project the future number of hunters in Wisconsin. We find that if the recent patterns continue, the number of Wisconsin male deer hunters will decline by more than 10 % (55,304 hunters) in the next 10 years and an additional 18 % (88,552 hunters) between 2020 and 2030.

Regulated Commercial Harvest to Manage Overabundant White-Tailed Deer: An Idea to Consider?

Author(s): VerCauteren, Kurt C.; Anderson, Charles W.; Van Deelen, Timothy R.; Drake, David; Walter, W. David; Vantassel, Stephen M.; Hygnstrom, Scott E. | Abstract: Declines in hunter recruitment coupled with dramatic growth in numbers of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have challenged our ability to manage deer populations through traditional methods. We surveyed all state wildlife agencies and estimate the abundance of white-tailed deer in North America currently exceeds 30 million. Traditional methods of population management have been ineffective in reducing numbers of deer sufficiently in some environments. The only way to manage overabundant deer directly, cost-effectively, and in a timely fashion is through lethal methods. States currently are issuing record numbers of permits to hunters to increase harvest of white-tailed deer. Unfortunately, hunter participation has been declining in North America during the past two decades. Regulated commercial harvest would help state wildlife agencies manage overabundant populations of white-tailed deer andallow hunters to sell all orparts of harvested deer. We anticipate that many will criticize regulated commercial harvest of deer and claim that it is contrary to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAMWC). We can, however,argue that regulated commercial harvest meets all seven of the pillars of the NAMWC: 1) Wildlife is a natural resource of the public trust(state wildlife agencies willmanage deeranddeerwould continue to be a public resource). 2) No commercial use of wildlife [a direct reaction to exploitive and unsustainable market hunting in the 18th and 19th Centuries; commercial markets currently exist for other natural resources (e.g., furbearers, fish, timber); contemporary conservation values would not allow overexploitation; a framework for regulations, monitoring, and enforcement already isin place in every state]. 3) Democratic rule of law to regulate use of wildlife (commercial harvest of white-tailed deer would be highly regulated by wildlife agencies through public processes). 4) Hunting opportunity for all (anyone legally able to hold a deer hunting license would be eligible to apply for a Commercial Deer Harvest License (CDHL), CDHL programs would be implemented only where recreational hunting is proven inefficient or inappropriate). 5) No frivolous use of wildlife (CDHLs will beused to generate of food and other products, management would address risk to human health and safety andlosses ofagricultural resourcesto deer). 6) Wildlife is an international resource (has little to do with our proposed idea of managing overabundant resident populations of white-tailed deer, but a CDHL program may be applicable to any overabundant species, including internationally migratory species,such assnow geese,Chen caerulescens). 7) Science-based wildlife policy (a CDHL program would rely on science and research-based data to estimate densities before, during, and after commercial harvest). A CDHL program should be managed and distributed by state wildlife agencies, issued only to qualified individuals, enable harvest of an allotment of deer in areas targeted for population reduction, and permit the sale of whole carcasses and parts of harvested deer. Administration of a CDHL program will be taxing. State agencies alreadyareunderstaffed, but administrative and enforcement frameworks already exist for commercial harvest of publicly owned natural resources (e.g., furbearers, fish, timber) and the processing and handling of meat (e.g., USDA inspections). Revenue generated by CDHL programs could be directed back toward agencies and personnel who will administer and oversee these programs. Looking forward, we anticipate several issues mustbe addressed for regulated commercial harvestof deer to be accepted by agencies, hunters, and the public. The dogma against commercial use of wildlife may be well established. It may be difficult to mediate changesin attitudes in the wildlife community, stakeholders, and other publics. It will require adoption at all levels. State laws and regulations will need to be reviewed and some will have to be changed. Some will argue that we do not have the strength, stamina, or political will necessary to implement such broad sweeping changes. On the other hand, many wildlife managers will appreciate having an alternative tool for managing overabundant populations of white-tailed deer. We identified several benefits (reduce overabundant populations of deer; source of healthy, natural, green, locally-produced protein; economic growth, entrepreneurship, and market expansion; and public engagement and appreciation) and expected concerns associated with this concept(privatization of wildlife; overexploitation; food safety; competition with existing commodities; law enforcement; challenges of changing laws, regulations, and attitudes). We encourage a professional discussionof regulated commercial harvestto address the issue of overabundant white-tailed deer.

Deer and elk hunter recruitment, retention, and participation trends in Montana

AbstractBig game hunting is the most popular type of hunting in the United States, and deer and elk hunting are the most popular type of hunting in Montana. Similar to other states, deer and elk hunting also generates most of the revenue spent on wildlife conservation by the state of Montana. Although nationwide trends indicate a concerning decline in hunter participation, the trends in license sales and hunter participation within most states have not received as much attention. We investigated trends in resident deer and elk license sales in Montana using existing licensing databases. We then estimated hunter recruitment, hunter participation, and license purchasing probabilities using hunter education and licensing databases. We employed a multi‐state mark–recapture model and 248,819 records of deer and elk license purchasing habits for individual Montana residents during 2002–2007. We used matrix population models to examine the relative influence of these parameters on trends in license sales and hunter participation. Resident deer and elk license sales increased 4% in Montana during 2002–2007. We found that males had greater recruitment rates, retention rates, and license purchasing probabilities than females, and that young adults had lesser license purchasing probabilities than other age classes. Based on analyses of matrix population models, trends in license sales in Montana are most influenced by middle‐aged and baby boomer male license purchase probabilities. Trends in hunter participation are positively influenced by recruitment and retention in all male age classes, with the smallest predicted effects arising from recruitment of young adult males. Our results suggest that a focus on older age class males with programs designed to increase hunter recruitment, retention, and license purchase probabilities may have similar or larger effects on trends in license sales and hunter participation in Montana than programs directed at youth. Our analyses also provide a framework by which trends in hunter recruitment, retention, and license purchasing habits can be objectively quantified in order to inform and evaluate hunter recruitment, retention, and license purchase habit programs. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Hunter perceptions and acceptance of alternative deer management regulations

AbstractWildlife managers are often confronted with a policy paradox where a majority of the public supports an outcome, but there is no agreement on specific management strategies to achieve this outcome. Previous research has also reported a link between regulatory acceptance, hunter satisfaction, and hunter participation rates. Thus, human dimensions research aimed at understanding hunter motivations and behavior is needed for effective management. In 2005, we surveyed Minnesota (USA) deer hunters (n = 6,000; 59% response) to evaluate attitudes regarding alternative deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvest regulations. We also conducted a series of forced choice experiments in which respondents were asked to select an option from a list of representative regulations that might be adopted to achieve a particular deer management goal. Specifically, we modeled 5 deer population scenarios ranging from low populations with high buck‐harvest rates to populations 50% over goal density. Our results indicate that hunters preferred different regulations depending on the population scenario, but generally preferred antler‐point restrictions and disliked limiting buck licenses through a lottery. We also found consistency among scenarios, in that a small percentage of respondents indicated they would not hunt if regulations were changed. The results from this study should help wildlife managers design deer harvest regulations that are both acceptable to hunters and achieve management objectives. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Time and Money Invested in Off-Season Deer Hunting Activities

Although hunter expenditures, effort, and participation rates are well-documented (USDOI, 2001; 2006), few studies have examined time and monetary investments in off-season hunting-related activiti...

Are attitudes toward wolves changing? A case study in Utah

A number of trends suggest public behavior and sentiment regarding wildlife, and especially charismatic mega-fauna such as wolves ( Canis lupus), changed in the latter half of the 20th century. Declining hunter participation, support for trapping ban initiatives, changes in wildlife-related policy and the portrayal of predators in the media all point to changes in the way US residents view wildlife. Yet, while many researchers have examined attitudes toward wolves and other wildlife species, few have empirically assessed such attitudes over time. We conducted a mail survey of Utah residents in 2003, replicating the methods of a 1994 study, in order to determine if Utahns’ attitudes toward wolves changed over the last decade. In addition, we compared the attitudes of relevant subgroups (i.e., big game hunters, rural residents, urban residents) across the two studies. Our results demonstrate the relative stability of attitudes toward wolves in Utah for all groups assessed, and offer important insights into questions related to the assessment of wildlife-related attitude change.

The influence of forested landscape attributes on hunter site choice and participation

This work illustrates the use of a non-timber valuation model linked to a number-of-trips prediction model to examine the significance of various forestland attributes and hunter characteristics on hunting site choice and participation in the Foothills Model Forest in west-central Alberta. Data were obtained through a survey that featured determination of hunting trip locations over a three-year period. Clearcut density, fire density, two access variables and, in particular, habitat suitability for ungulate game species were found to be significant variables that influenced hunter site choice. Welfare estimates determined by the number-of-trips prediction model highlight the applicability of the linked model in presenting a more complete picture of the effects of two landscape change scenarios. These scenarios show how the models could be used by land managers to balance economic and social benefits in a bid to move towards sustainable development of forest resources. Key words: non-timber valuation, revealed preference, habitat suitability, random utility theory, landscape attributes, hunter behaviour, multinomial logit

Managing for Preferred Hunting Experiences: A Typology of Minnesota Waterfowl Hunters

Most research describing the characteristics and behaviors of waterfowl hunters has assumed this group of sportsmen to be relatively homogenous. Using data obtained through a mail survey conducted in 2000, we developed a typology of Minnesota waterfowl hunters based on experience preferences. This type of information may assist wildlife managers in making regulatory recommendations that increase hunter satisfaction, and hence, participation. We used cluster analysis to group hunters into 5 types. We identified 2 types as enthusiasts and 3 as participants. Enthusiasts hunted more days and placed greater importance on almost all experience items than other respondents. We characterized participant hunters as longtime waterfowl-hunting participants, less-engaged waterfowl-hunting participants, and recreational-casual waterfowl-hunting participants. Longtime and less-engaged waterfowl hunters tended to be older than all other respondents. We suggest that modeling hunter participation using experience preferences and satisfaction also may enhance the harvest-management process.

Regulating Hunter Baiting for White-Tailed Deer in Michigan: Biological and Social Considerations

Eradication of bovine tuberculosis (TB) from free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) requires mortality rates of infected deer exceed the rate of new infection. Efforts to reduce TB transmission in Michigan, USA, are based on 2 assumptions: 1) deer mortality may be increased through recreational hunting, and 2) encounter rates between infected and noninfected deer may be reduced by prohibiting baiting and supplemental feeding. Spatial correlation of TB-infected deer and supplemental feeding sites detected using aerial surveys validated a ban on artificial feeding in Michigan. Similar analysis could not be used to evaluate the effects of a baiting ban because bait distribution was unknown. Furthermore, a ban on deer baiting could confound attempts to increase deer mortality through reduced hunter participation or efficacy. We reviewed the process used to evaluate a strategy for regulating bait use by hunters. This review included an assessment of 5 factors: statewide spatial analysis of apparent TB prevalence, deer intraspecific interactions at bait sites, effects of bait on hunter harvest rates, impacts of disease presence and practice of eradication efforts on hunting participation in the infected area, and input from law enforcement personnel. Our analysis suggested that restricting baiting to a limited, consistent region incurred less biological risk than allowing bait to be used statewide and less political risk than a statewide ban.

An Evaluation of Hunter Self-Monitoring in the Bolivian Chaco

Community wildlife management is being tested across the tropics as a means of promoting the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources. Key to successful programs is the effective participation of local hunters and communities in monitoring, planning, decision-making and implementation. We evaluate one method to achieve this participation, namely hunter self-monitoring. Between 1997 and 2000, Izoceno hunters from 22 communities in the Bolivian Chaco have voluntarily participated in monitoring their hunting activities, measuring and recording data on captured animals and hunting methods in personal notebooks. Despite the lack of remuneration, participation exceeds 60% of active hunters. However, the written information and specimens provided are not complete, and are biased according to hunting methods and prey characteristics. Complementary research is essential to answer specific research questions. Nevertheless, hunter self-monitoring serves to raise awareness of wildlife management issues at the communal or indigenous territory level, as evidenced by preliminary actions taken by hunters and communities in the Izozog.