The bushmeat phenomenon is spreading throughout the African continent. Wildlife species are slain and conservation areas are under increasing strain. Although studies have been conducted in east, central and western Africa, limited resources regarding this phenomenon exist. This is the first study to be conducted in the southern African region. Initially the study was intended for the whole of South Africa, but due to a lack of co-operation from other provincial governments and the unavailability of data, the study was focussed on conservation areas within KwaZulu-Natal. Data regarding bushmeat occurrences were collected from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the South African Police Services. With the help of a Geographical Information System, the data was overlain with other datasets such as the National Census data and a real-world model was created to establish the correlation and relationship between the bushmeat phenomenon in southern Africa compared to other regions of the continent. The results confirmed a steady increase in the number of reported bushmeat occurrences in KwaZulu-Natal from year to year. The increase in the number of bushmeat occurrences in KwaZulu-Natal can be attributed to an increase in population and poverty as well as the lack of a substantial alternative protein source. Bushmeat are primarily targeted by members of impoverished communities in the surrounding rural areas. Bushmeat are sold at local commercial markets as a subsistence protein source for consumption by the local communities. There is no evidence of a significant international commercial trade in bushmeat in the study area. Poachers travel great distances on foot to hunt inside conservation areas where the targeted animal species are still relatively abundant. Snares are utilised as the most preferred method for poaching in all areas. Hunters also utilise traditional weapons and dogs, but the use of firearms are relatively limited. According to the information derived from the analysis, Nyala and Wildebeest were the most targeted species during poaching activities. The highest percentage of bushmeat occurrences in KwaZulu-Natal take place in Mkhuze- and Ndumo Game Reserves. One of the most troubling results of the study was the police action associated with bushmeat occurrences. In most cases no Police Action was involved and only a limited amount of bushmeat incidents resulted in arrests being made. More effective policing by the South African Police Services are recommended as well as an increase in judiciary participation. More effective documentation of bushmeat occurrences by utilising a Global Positioning System to accurately log the specific locations as well as standardised documentation procedures are recommended for all field officers in all protected areas and regions. This will enable more effective monitoring of the bushmeat phenomenon. It is essential to address the key socio-economic problems as the main cause for the increase in the number of bushmeat occurrences in KwaZulu-Natal. The illicit bushmeat trade in the areas surrounding Mkhuze- and Ndumo Game Reserve can only be brought under control once the quality of life for the surrounding communities improves and more employment opportunities are created. Community conservation and awareness programmes as well as a better understanding of, and an increase in partnerships with surrounding communities will help to alleviate the bushmeat problem. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Bibliography: pages 177-205. / This thesis presents a reinterpretation of the late-Holocene hunter-gatherer archaeology of the Eland's Bay and Lambert's Bay areas of the western Cape. Marked changes in settlement, and subsistence over the last 4500 years had been previously suggested as having resulted from external factors, such as the environment and contact with incoming pastoralist groups. In contrast, this thesis presents hunter-gatherers as active role players in the transformation of their society and history. This was proposed as a result of an excavation and dating programme, palaeoenvironmental reconstructions with better resolved time sequences, and the use of an interpretative framework that emphasises possible changes in population numbers and in modes of production, as well as the consequences of these processes. Between 3500 and 2000 BP, population densities increased and residence permanence became more sedentary, both of which were easily accommodated by a productive environment. Solutions to social stress, resulting from landscape infilling, were not sought through migration, but through the formalization of ritual gatherings at Steenbokfontein Cave. During these gregarious occasions, proper codes of conducts were reinforced, inter- and intra-group conflict was mediated and peoples' identity with the local landscape was also asserted. Coinciding with the increase in population numbers after 3500 BP, subsistence was reorganized around the intensive collection of highly predictable and productive species, such as shellfish, tortoises and plants. Frequent snaring of small and territorial bovids almost completely replaced the hunting of large mobile game. A system of delayed returns was also central to coastal hunter-gatherer economy between 3000 and 2000 BP, whereby the collection, processing and storage of large quantities of shellfish meat was undertaken. The large-scale effort of this activity is attested by the massive build up of large shell middens termed "megamiddens". It seems likely that hunter- gatherers at this time obtained most of the necessary protein from marine resources. In addition to the pervasive and high levels of social stress, ecological stress became palpable as environmental conditions began to deteriorate after 2400 BP. Ritual intensification no longer provided a solution, and aggregation phases at Steenbokfontein Cave came to an end. Social networks amongst hunter-gatherer groups broke down as a consequence of their fission into smaller social units and withdrawal of some of them to the periphery of the study area. The arrival of stock-owning groups around 2000 BP triggered a series of different responses by hunter-gatherers. These varied from cooperative behaviour, assimilation, avoidance and/or conflict. It is argued that these differences were shaped to a large extent by variable socio- economic configurations amongst pre-contact hunter-gatherer groups. The diet of the newly reconfigured and diverse hunter-gatherer society became overall more mixed after 2000 BP. Shellfish gathering became less important, some hunting of large game was practiced, with most of the diet provided by plant collection, snaring of small antelopes and the capture of tortoises.

This works investigates zoological findings, especially the species and quantity of game, preserved in gamekeeper statistics of the second half of the 19th century. The information is sorted by the year of the shooting and by the kind of animal; and further by the location of the shooting. The relevant locations here are the three great regions: Kingdom of Bohemia, Moravia, and Duchy of Silesia; which, with minor territorial changes, constitute present Czech Republic. The data used in this work were gathered from the corresponding regions' archives, that is from the National Archives of Czech Republic, the Moravian regional archive in Brno and the Regional archive in Opava. One of the introductory chapters depicts the territorial development of these regions. The acquired data are organized into tables and graphs. The focus of the theoretical portion of this work is to systematize and clarify the data about game-shooting during a specific time in our history for selected game species. The aim of the practical portion is to highlight unexpected and surprising connections between zoology, gamekeeping and history.

<p>Услови који владају у одређеном станишту дивљачи (ловишту) зависе од многих фактора. Ти фактори су храна, вода, тло, вегетација, мир у ловишту, клима и др. Основни предуслов одрживог газдовања ловиштем је и адекватна оцена свих фактора. То се ради у поступку бонитирања на основу чега се даље раде пројекције капацитета ловишта. У основи ове докторске дисертације је да у процес бонитирања укључи географске информационе системе. То подразумева приказ новог метода бонитирања који би користио ГИС. У оквиру дисертације је приказана методологија методе бонитирања применом ГИС-а, као и његова примена у истраживаном подручју - равничарском ловишту &bdquo;Капетански рит&ldquo; Кањижа. На крају су презентовани резултати о анализи и оцени сваког од фактора, као и о могућој примениприликом утврђивања капацитета ловишта.</p> / <p>Uslovi koji vladaju u određenom staništu divljači (lovištu) zavise od mnogih faktora. Ti faktori su hrana, voda, tlo, vegetacija, mir u lovištu, klima i dr. Osnovni preduslov održivog gazdovanja lovištem je i adekvatna ocena svih faktora. To se radi u postupku bonitiranja na osnovu čega se dalje rade projekcije kapaciteta lovišta. U osnovi ove doktorske disertacije je da u proces bonitiranja uključi geografske informacione sisteme. To podrazumeva prikaz novog metoda bonitiranja koji bi koristio GIS. U okviru disertacije je prikazana metodologija metode bonitiranja primenom GIS-a, kao i njegova primena u istraživanom području - ravničarskom lovištu &bdquo;Kapetanski rit&ldquo; Kanjiža. Na kraju su prezentovani rezultati o analizi i oceni svakog od faktora, kao i o mogućoj primeniprilikom utvrđivanja kapaciteta lovišta.</p> / <p>Game habitat quality depends on numerous natural and human-induced conditions. Recent researches have determined that available food, land cover, human&nbsp; disturbance, topography and climatic factors are essential factors. Its analysis is necessary for sustainable management of natural areas, including hunting grounds as game habitat. Hunting is an activity that is closely associated with forestry, water management, agriculture, tourism, etc. GIS is widely applied in the above-mentioned&nbsp; activities and therefore in the field of hunting. Past practice has shown that the classical methods for evaluating habitat factors involve a lot of subjectivity and often leads to unrealistic determination of hunting ground capacity. The aim of this dissertation is to assess evaluation of the essential factors fordetermination the capacity of hunting ground. Instead of the classical analyses, project proposes assessment of this factor using Geographic Information System (GIS) which have never been used for this purpose in hunting ground before. Researched area was hunting ground &ldquo;Kapetanski rit&rdquo; &ndash; Kanjiža, Serbia. Comparing classical methods for evaluating habitat factors and use of GIS for this purposes, obtained results indicate to adventages of new imrpoved GIS methodology<br />&nbsp;</p>

Shed antler hunting has increased in popularity during the past decade, but little is known about how this recreational activity affects ungulate movements and space use. We placed geographic positioning system (gps)-collars on 133 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), bison (Bison bison), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to quantify their movements, space use, and resource selection during shed antler hunts on Antelope Island Utah, USA, from 2012 to 2015. In Chapter 1, we calculated means and 95% confidence intervals for distance moved during 90-minute segments (16 points/day); pre-event (control, seven consecutive days prior to event), event (one to two days), and post-event (seven consecutive days after event) for shed hunts and helicopter surveys. We also compared each species use of space during these events. Female bighorn sheep did not increase distance moved or substantially change space use during shed hunts and helicopter surveys. Male bighorn sheep increased distance moved 41% on average during shed hunts and by 2.02 times during helicopter surveys but did not change space use during those events. Female bison increased distance moved 15% on average during shed hunts and 30% during helicopter surveys. Mule deer increased distance moved and altered space use the most during shed hunts; females increased distance moved 97%, and 54% of females moved a mean distance of 742 ± 642 (SD) m outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 9.2 ± 9.4 hours (range = 1.5 to 41 hr). Male mule deer increased distance moved by 2.10 times on average during shed hunts, and 82% of males moved a mean distance of 1,264 ± 732 m outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 12.6 ± 7.6 hours. In Chapter 2, we analysed 177,138 gps locations to quantify space use and movements of 12 mule deer and 25 bighorn sheep in response to shed hunting. Twenty-five percent of mule deer and 44% of bighorn sheep responded differently to shed antler hunting across two years. We tracked four mule deer for three and four consecutive years, and all those deer responded to shed hunting differently across subsequent years. Mule deer increased movement (paired t-test = -3.9, p < 0.001) during shed hunts compared to pre-event movement. Bighorn sheep increased movement (paired t-test = -6.9, p < 0.001) during shed hunts compared to pre-event movement. In Chapter 3, we placed gps-collars on 27 mule deer and 29 bighorn sheep to quantify habitat selection during shed hunts compared with resources selection seven days prior and seven days following these hunts. Mule deer (n = 6) remained in the same area (response 1), moved to another area within their home range (n = 7; response 2), or moved beyond their home range boundaries (n = 14; response 3). Bighorn sheep (n = 17) remained in the same area (response 1), moved to another area within their home range (n = 11; response 2), or moved beyond their home range boundaries (n = 1; response 3). Shifts in resource selection by mule deer and bighorn sheep were detected during shed hunts regardless of the initial response of the individual animal during those hunts.

Willow grouse ( Lagopus lagopus) and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) are popular game birds in Sweden. I have analysed hunting statistics from Jämtland county in Sweden and investigated if there is a significant correlation between willow grouse density and Catch-Per-Unit-Effort (CPUE) by nationalities and type of permits. The included nationalities were Swedish, Nordic and non-Nordic hunters. Type of permits that were analysed were day-, municipality and county permits. There was no correlation between the grouse density and CPUE variables. However, significant correlations were found when correlating yearly number of harvested grouse  with the CPUE variables. For willow grouse, significant correlations were found between Swedish, Non-Nordic, day and municipality permit hunters and for rock ptarmigan, Swedish, Nordic, day and municipality permit hunters. I also found that international hunters was more effective than Swedish hunters, as well as hunters with day permit, which was true for both species. There were also differences between the CPUE variables between two time periods, 2004-2012 and 2013-2021. In the second period, the CPUE of Swedish hunters, day and municipality permit hunters have decreased for willow grouse. The CPUE also decreased for non-Nordic during the second period for rock ptarmigans. Significant difference in hunting pressure were also found between the two time periods, where the later period had slightly higher hunting pressure than the first period. The results of this study strengthened previous studies where no correlation has been found between the grouse density and CPUE.

The Sami indigenous peoples in Northern Scandinavia face ongoing pressures to maintain their traditional way of life. Today, scholars of resilience and sustainability studies have looked towards indigenous tourism to deliver income diversity and cultural preservation. However, to date, this realization has been slow. Thus, the landmark ruling on the 23rd of January 2020 whereby one Sami community, the Girjas Sameby, was awarded the exclusive rights to administer hunting and fishing licenses against the Swedish State, could present a new opportunity to achieve these goals. Against this backdrop, a mixed-methods case study was conducted within their district to investigate if this verdict translated into opportunities for sustainable tourism development. Particularly as this case sets a legal precedent, many other Sami communities are expected to follow. Twenty-four respondents from three stakeholder groups, namely the Sami, tourism entrepreneurs and tourists, highlighted challenges for sustainable tourism development due to the new exclusionary rules instituted by the Sami and still weak sustainable travel trends in the region. The data emphasizes strained relationships between stakeholders and notes an increase in conflicts subsequent to the verdict. Arguably, the most significant opportunity presents itself not in the growth of tourism but rather in the preservation of nature and the now unavoidable convergence stakeholders are forced into, which, until recently, has been limited. Presenting the prospects for building collaborative relationships, which ultimately can help break down age-old stigmas as mutual trust and respect are developed.

This thesis deals with the rules of compensation for damage caused by wild animals and beasts and damage caused on wild animals and beasts in the Czech Republic. The main topic of the diploma thesis is the evaluation and analysis of current legislation. The work is divided into thirteen sections, when some of them are further divided into subsections. The main part consists of chapters 8 and 9, which deal with damages wildlife and further chapters 11 and 12, dealing with damages to animals. All chapters are based primarily on Act No. 449/2001 Coll., On hunting, as amended. Attention is mainly focused on the issue of compensation for damage caused by wild animals and beasts. Particularly with regard to the current bark beetle calamity that hit a large part of the territory of the Czech Republic, it appears this issue is highly topical.

Two obstructionist ways of doing politics on contentious wildlife management issues currently reflect a legitimacy deficit in official channels for public engagement. The first is that of a pernicious “direct-action” politics, in the form of resort by hunters in rural Sweden to illegal killings of protected wolves over whose policy they contest. The second obstruction is when environmental non-governmental organizations routinely file appeals in higher-level courtrooms contesting democratically mandated wolf cull decisions. Although markedly different when it comes to their categorically deliberative values as well as fidelity to the law, we argue both extra-legal and the litigative phenomena reflect disenfranchisement with the participation channels in which such controversies may be resolved through a public dialogue. We also argue that both possess negative systemic deliberative value inasmuch as they frustrate goals of reaching deliberative consensus, by contributing to a stalled public communication on wolf management. We address this deficit by appeal to recent developments in the theory and practice of mini-publics that promote both the categorical and systemic deliberative value of channeling contestation. In particular, we appeal to a novel conception of hunter-initiated, but citizen controlled, mini-publics as a vehicle for re-starting stalled public communication on wolf conservation.

In this paper, we determine whether illegal hunting should be construed as a crime of dissent. Using the Nordic countries as a case study where protest-driven, illegal hunting of protected wolves is on the rise, we reconsider the crime using principles of civil disobedience. We invoke the conditions of intentionality, nonevasion, dialogic effort, non-violence and appeal to parameters of reasonable disagreement about justice and situate the Nordic illegal hunting phenomenon at a nexus between conscientious objection, assisted disobedience and everyday resistance. This examination leads us to contend that the crime has heretofore received an inadequate response limited to punishment and deterrence. This contention finds support in the worsening predicaments of illegal hunting following harsh sanctions and stigmatization. Although hunters publicize injustices through their crimes, we find that killing wolves as a means to deliberative ends disqualifies hunters’ dissent as legitimate disobedience, creating an obligation of deliberative uptake on the part of society. Nonetheless, in a critical contribution to the field of criminal justice, we argue that it is instead the conditions of deliberative suboptimality experienced by hunters that create this obligation of uptake. Hence, in order to fulfill this obligation, we contend that the burden falls on regulatory agencies to better articulate the justifications for the policies that coerce hunters. We also advocate creating novel institutions to provide hunters with effective opportunities for contesting wildlife conservation directives.