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The study aimed to determine the age structure of male capercaillies Tetrao urogallus L., 1758 in Bulgaria based on specimens preserved in collections. We studied 206 birds from the museum collections of the Sitnyakovo Palace (Rila Mnt.) and the National Museum of Natural History, (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). The age of the birds was determined by the shape of the beak, the shape of the outer feathers of tail, the length of the beak, the length of the beak furrow and the height of the beak at the base. For each of the characteristics used, we divided the birds into three age classes: juvenile (up to 14 months), subadult (between 14 and 60 months) and adult (over 60 months). Of all individuals studied, 92 (44.7%) were juveniles, 64 (31.1%) were subadults and 50 (24.3%) were adults. We found an inconsistency in determining the age of individuals using only one of the characteristics. We proposed to use the angle of curvature of the beak for the age determination. We recommend introducing the requirement to examine more somatometric characteristics in the rare cases when shooting of capercaillies is allowed. This will allow the correct estimation of the age of capercaillies and the accumulation of database information, which will be useful for the management of this difficult to be studied and economically important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the importance of managed hunting estates is a focal step in knowing whether they affect game and non-game species. Microhabitat and human presence were measured in managed and unmanaged hunting estates in the Mamora forest to identify the best predictors of the vulnerable European turtle dove (TD) occurrence (presence/absence) by means of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). The results reveal that TD occurrence increases significantly close to paved roads and to houses of shepherds with enclosures and far away from rural agglomerations in managed hunting estates, whereas, in unmanaged hunting estates, it increases far from paved roads and close to rural agglomerations and houses of shepherds with enclosures. Furthermore, whatever the type of hunting forest estate, the TD occurrence increases with an increasing cover of trees and remoteness from cereal crops. In the Mamora forest, the effect of hunting estate type on TD occurrence is not that strong to be noticeable in the managed hunting estates (apparent positive effect on TD occurrence). However, human presence turns out to be beneficial for TD in unmanaged hunting estates. It is recommended to test the geographical generality of our results using the same analytical approach in other managed and unmanaged hunting estates for both game and non-game species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) are main small game species of conservation concern in Mediterranean ecosystems. To date, their presence in wild boar’s (Sus scrofa) diet and factors driving their consumption have been little investigated. A genetic metabarcoding approach was used on 80 wild boar faeces collected from four hunting estates devoted to small game hunting during two different seasons. Abundances of wild boar, rabbits and partridges were first estimated. Results showed DNA of seventeen chordate species. The highest frequency of occurrence (FO) corresponded to mammals and birds, with 77.6 and 22.3%, respectively. DNA of game species was detected in 39/71 (FO = 55.0%) samples, highlighting the presence of European wild rabbit in 27 (FO = 38.0%) and red-legged partridge in eight (FO = 11.3%). Dietary composition varied between seasons and estates, being rabbit the main responsible (explaining 35.26% and 39.45% of differences, respectively). Rabbit FO in the diet was positively related to the abundance of wild boar and rabbit density on the estate. It was greater in autumn and in estates where rabbits were hunted. Regarding red-legged partridge, a significant and positive relationship between its population density and its diet FO was observed, without significant differences between seasons or estates. Overall, our results suggest wild boar as an opportunistic species whose diet is largely determined by the relative availability of different food resources. Its ecological role concerning small game species in Mediterranean agroecosystems seems to be more related to consumption of carrion during the hunting season than to direct predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to assess the sustainability of wild bird harvest in the United Kingdom (UK), and more widely, across Europe. Yet, data on populations and harvest sizes are limited.We used a demographic invariant method (DIM) to estimate potential excess growth (PEG) for populations of UK wintering waterbirds and calculated a sustainable harvest index (SHI) for each. We compared this with population trends and conservation classifications (e.g. Birds of Conservation Concern [BoCC]) to assess the sustainability of harvests and the utility of these classifications.Our approach found evidence for potential overharvest of mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Eurasian teal Anas crecca, gadwall Mareca strepera, Canada geese Branta canadensis, greylag geese Anser anser and woodcock Scolopax rusticola. Whether DIM methods predict overharvest is highly dependent on estimates of maximum population growth rates inferring PEG. We found estimates of maximum population growth to be variable across a range of different methods.We found no relationship between SHI and short‐term wintering trends or conservation classification under the UK's BoCC framework. There was however a positive relationship between SHI and long‐term wintering trends.Policy implications. Our results suggest that UK‐based harvest is unlikely to be a major determinant of population trends for the majority of UK overwintering waterbirds, but harvest rates for some species may exceed that required to maintain stationary population growth. The lack of a relationship between conservation classifications and SHI strongly suggests that such conservation classifications are not an appropriate tool for making decisions about harvest management. Instead, our assessment provides the basis for a framework to make evidence‐based decisions on sustainable harvest levels in the face of incomplete data. There is currently no clear policy instrument in the UK to support such a framework via controls on either harvest effort or mortality of waterfowl. We believe such an instrument is urgently needed to ensure the UK can adapt to changing pressures and ensure the sustainable use of our wildlife populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bird harvest for recreational purposes or as a source for food is an important activity worldwide. Assessing or mitigating the impact of these additional sources of mortality on bird populations is therefore crucial issue. The sustainability of harvest levels is however rarely documented, because knowledge of their population dynamics remains rudimentary for many bird species. Some helpful approaches using limited demographic data can be used to provide initial assessment of the sustainable use of harvested bird populations, and help adjusting harvest levels accordingly. The Demographic Invariant Method (DIM) is used to detect overharvesting. In complement, the Potential Take Level (PTL) approach may allow setting a level of take with regard to management objectives and/or to assess whether current harvest levels meet these objectives. Here, we present the R package popharvest that implements these two approaches in a simple and straightforward way. The package provides users with a set of flexible functions whose arguments can be adapted to existing knowledge about population dynamics. Also, popharvest enables users to test scenarios or propagate uncertainty in demographic parameters to the assessment of sustainability through easily programming Monte Carlo simulations. The simplicity of the package makes it a useful toolbox for wildlife managers or policymakers. This paper provides them with backgrounds about the DIM and PTL approaches and illustrates the use of popharvest's functionalities in this context.

The recovery of European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Spain is of great interest for wildlife conservation. Large-scale management and conservation programmes aimed to determine current population abundance.Most methods for censusing rabbits only offer estimates of relative abundance. However, we lack accurate studies about how latrine counts index is related to population density. The aim of this study is twofold: 1) to test the suitability of counting rabbit latrines as a relative abundance index and; 2) to explore if the number of latrines is a useful predictor of wild rabbit density.We compared latrine surveys conducted in 2 km-length paths with density estimates obtained from distance-based estimates. The study was conducted during two years in central Spain in mixed agriculture-woodland landscapes. Sites covered all potential range of rabbit densities in natural landscapes. Density estimates were obtained by using Distance software.We used type II major axis regression to evaluate the relationship between rabbit density and latrine counting. The predictive ability of the regression equation was performed by several predictive metrics.Results show that the number of latrines counted is a very good abundance index. We also found that latrine counts had a high predictive power to estimate rabbit density. Therefore, latrine surveys are not only a proxy of abundance, but can be used as a cost-effective tool to estimate rabbit population density at low and intermediate densities, which are the most important for the conservation practitioners. Furthermore, the method needs to be tested in other seasons and habitats to prove its generality.

The analysis performed in this study focused on the hunting management of wild boar in the hunting ground "Dulenska reka", as well as on the impact of knowledge of the species and its monitoring in the field, which can lead to an incredible difference in hunting management The aim of this study was to analyze wild boar management and determine the differences between the variables used to calculate population dynamics. For the purposes of the analysis, data from planning documents and professional literature were used, and the calculations of population dynamics were performed in Excel. The results indicate that the number of wild boar in the hunting ground is increasing, and the consequence of different sizes in the calculations of population dynamics as well as the mismatch of planned and realized shooting can be the reasons that directly affect population growth.

Bird harvest for recreational purposes or as a source for food is an important activity worldwide. Assessing or mitigating the impact of these additional sources of mortality on bird populations is therefore crucial issue. The sustainability of harvest levels is however rarely documented, because knowledge of their population dynamics remains rudimentary for many bird species. Some helpful approaches using limited demographic data can be used to provide initial assessment of the sustainable use of harvested bird populations, and help adjusting harvest levels accordingly. The Demographic Invariant Method (DIM) is used to detect overharvesting. In complement, the Potential Take Level (PTL) approach may allow setting a level of take with regard to management objectives and/or to assess whether current harvest levels meet these objectives. Here, we present the R package popharvest that implements these two approaches in a simple and straightforward way. The package provides users with a set of flexible functions whose arguments can be adapted to existing knowledge about population dynamics. Also, popharvest enables users to test scenarios or propagate uncertainty in demographic parameters to the assessment of sustainability through easily programming Monte Carlo simulations. The simplicity of the package makes it a useful toolbox for wildlife managers or policymakers. This paper provides them with backgrounds about the DIM and PTL approaches and illustrates the use of popharvest's functionalities in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numerical increase of roe deer has resulted in a noticeable growth of hunting activities allowing to have a great availability of biometrical data from both the hunted samples and the population by describing trends and variations and, then, optimize the consequent wildlife management decisions. Specifically, we analyzed biometric data of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population at the Macerata Province, in central Italy. We focused on two animal groups: fawns (2 years old). We assessed the relationship between body parameters and trophic resources available during the autumn-winter period. In particular, we analyzed live weight, head–trunk length, height at shoulders, chest circumference, length of hock, total length of the cranium, condilo-basal length, mastoid width, zygomatic width, ectorbital width, entorbital width, teeth row length and mandible length. In the context of studying trophic resources, we identified three environmental categories based on their carrying capacity and then assigned a specific environmental category to each sample. Statistical analysis was performed. In fawn, only zygomatic width showed significant differences both between sexes and among the environmental categories. In adult, the analysis showed significant differences between sexes for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock and zygomatic width, with the highest values for males. Among environmental categories, the analysis showed significant differences for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock chest circumference, length of hock, ectorbital width and teeth row length. This approach, applied to a broader database could be useful to identify suitable parameters to be used in planning the optimum selective hunting of roe deer.

Wild Boar is an autochthonous big game species important for the domestic hunting sector. In the past decades this species is increasing in number across Europe, which influences the extent of crop damages and intensity of the human-wildlife conflict. In this study Wild Boar hunting management was analyzed both at the national and regional level. For that purpose data from management plans of 272 hunting grounds were used. Beside the management plans, this study includes a survey of 377 hunters. The results indicate that Wild Boar population abundance is increasing in the Republic of Serbia, partially because the planned and realized shooting are not harmonized. There are differences in hunting management between the regions of Vojvodina and Central Serbia. The survey has shown that among domestic hunters Wild Boar is a popular game species, especially due to the attractive way of hunting.

The numerical increase of roe deer has resulted in a noticeable growth of hunting activities allowing to have a great availability of biometrical data from both the hunted samples and the population by describing trends and variations and, then, optimize the consequent wildlife management decisions. Specifically, we analyzed biometric data of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population at the Macerata Province, in central Italy. We focused on two animal groups: fawns (<11 months old) and adults (>2 years old). We assessed the relationship between body parameters and trophic resources available during the autumn-winter period. In particular, we analyzed live weight, head–trunk length, height at shoulders, chest circumference, length of hock, total length of the cranium, condilo-basal length, mastoid width, zygomatic width, ectorbital width, entorbital width, teeth row length and mandible length. In the context of studying trophic resources, we identified three environmental categories based on their carrying capacity and then assigned a specific environmental category to each sample. Statistical analysis was performed. In fawn, only zygomatic width showed significant differences both between sexes and among the environmental categories. In adult, the analysis showed significant differences between sexes for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock and zygomatic width, with the highest values for males. Among environmental categories, the analysis showed significant differences for live weight, head–trunk length, length of hock chest circumference, length of hock, ectorbital width and teeth row length. This approach, applied to a broader database could be useful to identify suitable parameters to be used in planning the optimum selective hunting of roe deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size‐selective harvesting of wild ungulates can trigger a range of ecological and evolutionary consequences. It remains unclear how environmental conditions, including changes in habitat, climate, and local weather conditions, dilute or strengthen the effects of trophy hunting. We analyzed horn length measurements of 2,815 male ibex (Capra pyrenaica) that were harvested from 1995 to 2017 in Els Ports de Tortosa i Beseit National Hunting Reserve in northeastern Spain. We used linear mixed models to determine the magnitude of inter‐individual horn growth variability and partial least square path models to evaluate long‐term effects of environmental change, population size, and hunting strategy on horn growth. Age‐specific horn length significantly decreased over the study period, and nearly a quarter (23%) of its annual variation was attributed to individual heterogeneity among males. The encroachment of pine (Pinus spp.) forests had a negative effect on annual horn growth, possibly through nutritional impoverishment. The harvesting of trophy and selective individuals (e.g., small‐horned males) from the entire population increased horn growth, probably because it reduced the competition for resources and prevented breeding of these smaller males. Local weather conditions and population size did not influence horn growth. Our study demonstrates how habitat changes are altering the horn growth of male ibex. We suggest that habitat interventions, such the thinning of pine forests, can contribute to securing the sustainability of trophy hunting. Even in situations where size‐selective harvesting is not causing a detectable phenotypic response, management actions leading to the expansion of preferred land cover types, such as grass‐rich open areas, can have a positive effect on ungulate fitness. Forest encroachment on open meadows and heterogeneous grasslands is pervasive throughout Mediterranean ecosystems. Therefore, our management recommendations can be extended to the landscape level, which will have the potential to mitigate the side effects of habitat deterioration on the phenotypic traits of wild ibex. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. The encroachment of coniferous forests and the consequent loss of natural pastures had a negative effect on the annual horn growth of male ibex inhabiting a Mediterranean ecosystem. The selective harvesting of small‐horned males had a positive effect on annual horn growth. The expansion of grass‐rich open areas should be prioritized to reduce the negative effects of habitat deterioration on the phenotypic traits of male ibex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article presents the issues of the wild animal welfare, basing on the example of the deer family members, implemented by hunters as part of the conducted hunting management and individual selection, focused on the lack of undesirable individuals. This way of managing renewable natural resources seems to be rational, as it creates the possibility of using the population of individual species on the principles of sustainable development. It allows to regulate population structure, mainly its density and gender and age structures, which directly affect aspects related to animal welfare. At the same time, it was proposed to assess the welfare of wild animals through a modified principle of the five freedoms applicable to pets. Due to behavioral specifics, as well as living conditions and fulfilling basic life functions, such assessment should be based on the "principle of six groups of activities", performed as part of managing individual populations. Meeting the guidelines resulting from the proposed principle, should ensure optimal conditions for the welfare of wild animals, as well as set out research directions for the assessment of their welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ștefan cel Mare University’s Hunting Funds, through the Faculty of Forestry, consists of three hunting territories (HT): HT no. 55 Mitoc, HT no. 69 Râșca, HT no. 56 Salcea. The first two have a high hunting potential for major hunting sedentary game species (wild boar, roe buck, roe deer, hare, wolf, bear). In over 15 years of hunting management, USV has overcome the difficulties imposed by different legislations. Also, USV, along with the University of Brașov, managed to amend Law 407/2006 and to return to free hunting use of the public lands. The teaching and research activities in the hunting territories have resulted in over 15 diploma projects, over 20 scientific articles published in specialized reviews, of which 7 ISI, over 10 scientific papers of which two were the students’ work, two research contracts and a book. The management coherence driven by the specialized staff is reflected in the higher number of top quality trophies, which started to be harvested after about 10 years of management.

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a key species of great ecological and economical interest in the Mediterranean ecosystem. During the last decades important changes in the land use have transformed part of its natural habitat, a problem that has been aggravated by the incidence of two viral diseases, myxomatosis and hemorrhagic disease (RHD) causing a major decline in the populations of Mallorca. The conservation of the species has been based on certain occasions in the realization of repopulations. This paper shows the results of a study initiated in Mallorca whose ultimate purpose is to minimize the risks associated with this management measure, and establish the methodological basis for a correct recovery of the species. Therefore, a sampling of the rabbit populations susceptible of being donors has been carried out, analyzing their genetic and sanitary characteristics, at the same time that a survey of the situation of the wild rabbit populations of Mallorca has been carried out. In this way, the hunting administration of Mallorca has developed during the years 2016 and 2019 the field rabbit experimental breeding from six donor populations in controlled conditions of semi-freedom in the Center Cinegètic de Mallorca. The rabbits obtained have served to repopulate areas in which rabbit density was low or zero. The losses caused by the new variant of the RHD (virus RHDV-2) in the breeding nuclei, and the predation in the areas of repopulation, have been the most important causes of mortality. Subsequently, lower mortality rates have been observed, suggesting a greater natural immune response capacity to the RHD, and the following repopulations carried out on the island until now have shown high rates of survival and adaptation of the specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2006, population monitoring of game species has been carried out on the island of Mallorca, and since 2012 a time series has been available for the European rabbit (Orytolagus cuniculus), Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) and Iberian hare (Lepus Granatensis) based on a standardized and adapted methodology to the possibilities of field work of the Hunting Service of the Council of Majorca. Estimated densities are compared with an adaptation of the Emlen method and with Distance Sampling to 4 hunting regions with suitable habitats for the indicated species, and IKA transectc results are offered. The two aforementioned methods offer consistent data among them and useful for game management. During the studied time series very high populations of partridge and hare are detected. The rabbit presents low populations in spite of punctual appearance of demographic upturns, and the impact of diseases like the RHD becomes patent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting management in Brazil in not regulated by a unique legal framework, but by a combination of national environmental legislation and local rules and norms. Therefore, a multidimensional perspective combining structural and procedural analysis of the different institutional arrangements is necessary for better understanding of this local natural resource management system. We combined three analytical approaches in the study case of hunting management in the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS-PP) in the Brazilian Amazon. The institutional analysis of the rules revealed gaps and inconsistencies between different structures and decision levels. The meta-governance analysis indicated incongruities arising from different perceptions and values among stakeholders. Finally, the bricolage analysis revealed hybrid strategies used by local stakeholders and state agents. We conclude that complementarity of analytical frameworks is necessary in order to understand how multiple perceptions and power asymmetries in co-management arenas may influence the dynamics and porosity of such institutional arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempted to estimate the socioeconomic impacts on hunting demand caused by a 2006 wildfire on a typical Mediterranean ecosystem in Greece (Kassandra peninsula). A questionnaire administered to a sample of local hunters was used to test the hypothesis that the wildfire and the consequent hunting ban, which was used by the Greek Forest Service as a measure for wildlife protection, posed a significant impact on the demand of hunters for hunting licenses and hunting trips. Using questionnaires as a source of information it was assessed what these impacts meant for the economy, either on local, or national scale, by estimating the income elasticity of demand for hunting licenses in the area of Kassandra and the expenses for hunting excursions before and after wildfire. It was observed that hunters attempted to preserve their activity despite the excessive hunting restrictions. Implications for hunting management and policy decision making were examined.

Context Pulsed resources ecosystem could be strongly affected by climate. Disantangling the role of climate on mast seeding allow to understand a seed consumer spatial behaviour to design proper wildlife and forest management strategies. Aims We investigated the relationship between mast seeding and climatic variables and we evaluated the influence of mast seeding on wild boar home range dynamics. Methods We analysed mast seeding as seed biomass production of three broadleaf tree species (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus cerris L., Castanea sativa Mill.) in the northern Apennines. Next, we explored which climatic variables affected tree masting patterns and finally we tested the effect of both climate and seed biomass production on wild boar home range size. Results Seed biomass production is partially regulated by climate; high precipitation in spring of the current year positively affects seed biomass production while summer precipitation of previous year has an opposite effect. Wild boar home range size is negatively correlated to seed biomass production, and the climate only partially contributes to determine wild boar spatial behaviour. Conclusion Climate factors influence mast seeding, and the negative correlation between wild boar home range and mast seeding should be taken into account for designing integrated, proactive hunting management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European rabbit restocking is one of the most frequent actions in hunting estates and conservation projects in Spain, France and Portugal where rabbit is a keystone species. The aim of this work was to review current knowledge regarding rabbit restocking in accordance with the IUCN (1998) guidelines for re–introduction in order to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight the techniques that improve the overall success rate. Eight of 17 items selected from these guidelines were identified as partly studied or unknown, including important items such as the management and release of captive–reared wild rabbits, the development of transport and monitoring programs, the application of vaccine programs, and post–release long–term studies. Researchers should therefore concentrate their efforts on bridging these knowledge gaps, and wildlife managers should consider all the factors reviewed herein so as to establish accurate management guidelines for subsequent rabbit restocking programs.

Brown hare ( Lepus europaeus) is an important widely distributed game species. The ecological conditions of its distribution and the population density are being studied with respect to hunting economics and the species management. In this study, we aimed to establish a connection between the hare harvest, the hare abundance and the occurrence of European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) infection in hares in Hellas (Greece). Taken into consideration the variability of the ecotopes in nearby areas in the Mediterranean ecosystems, this study was carried out in seven different ecotopes in an area of 6601 km. In overall, 291 hares harvested by hunters during the hunting periods were included in this study. The ecotopes where the hares were harvested were recorded, and the hare abundance was estimated in each ecotope. RT-PCR was used for the detection of EBHSV infection in hares. The greatest harvest per unit area was recorded in areas with mosaic of cereals and woody vegetation. However, the hare population density was higher in shrublands and olive groves. The higher EBHSV infection prevalence was recorded in olive groves, followed by mixed cultivations, shrublands and mosaic. Hare harvest and EBHSV infection prevalence were related with the hare abundance, while hare harvest and EBHSV infection prevalence were not related with each other. Our findings suggest that ecotope has a higher influence as a limiting factor for hare population density and harvest than the EBHSV infection. The classification of ecotopes as hare habitats and the estimation of hunting harvest and disease prevalence could contribute to a more effective and site-specific management of harvest, habitat improvement priorities and disease control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survival and mobility have important implications for population management for game species. These parameters are influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We describe movements (commuting flights between diurnal refuges and nocturnal feeding places; and escape flights during cold spells) and winter survival rate of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) wintering in Spain. We also evaluate factors influencing these variables, using 51 radio-tracked birds over three winters (2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2010/2011). Commuting flight distances were estimated at 961.5 ± 1041.9 m, and variations were mainly explained by age and temperature (they decreased with lower temperatures and were lower for first-winter birds). Three cold spells occurred in 2009/2010; 80% of woodcocks monitored that winter showed escape flights, moving > 20 km, and went back to their previous wintering place when the effects of cold spells finished (about 8 days later). Of monitored woodcocks, 54.9% survived the winter. The most frequent cause of death was hunting, affecting mainly first-winter birds. Woodcock survival was lower in areas with more hunting days per week, and in Mediterranean than in Atlantic climate regions. Our results highlight the importance of monitoring survival and factors affecting it. Also, these results underline the importance of developing future studies to understand the importance of Mediterranean regions, the use of refuge places during cold spells, and hunting pressure there.

[Display omitted] The recovery of European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Spain is of great interest for wildlife conservation. Large-scale management and conservation programmes aimed to determine current population abundance. Most methods for censusing rabbits only offer estimates of relative abundance. However, we lack accurate studies about how latrine counts index is related to population density. The aim of this study is twofold: 1) to test the suitability of counting rabbit latrines as a relative abundance index and; 2) to explore if the number of latrines is a useful predictor of wild rabbit density. We compared latrine surveys conducted in 2 km-length paths with density estimates obtained from distance-based estimates. The study was conducted during two years in central Spain in mixed agriculture-woodland landscapes. Sites covered all potential range of rabbit densities in natural landscapes. Density estimates were obtained by using Distance software. We used type II major axis regression to evaluate the relationship between rabbit density and latrine counting. The predictive ability of the regression equation was performed by several predictive metrics. Results show that the number of latrines counted is a very good abundance index. We also found that latrine counts had a high predictive power to estimate rabbit density. Therefore, latrine surveys are not only a proxy of abundance, but can be used as a cost-effective tool to estimate rabbit population density at low and intermediate densities, which are the most important for the conservation practitioners. Furthermore, the method needs to be tested in other seasons and habitats to prove its generality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author deals with the flow of information in hunting clubs in Poland. The aim of the paper is to present the results of research carried out by the author in this respect among 79 hunting clubs in the Poznań region. The hypothesis has been put forward that it is not possible to replace traditional methods of communication with modern IT ones as a result of various restrictions. The results of the research have verified the hypothesis as the social and legal constraints limit the possibility of taking advantage of the Internet.

Wild red-legged partridge populations have experienced important declines in recent decades. With an aim to increase or maintain hunting quotas, releases of farm-reared red-legged partridges have concomitantly increased. However, the sustainability of this management practice is increasingly questioned. Farm-reared partridges suffer a high mortality rate immediately after release, and many released birds may already be dead before hunting takes place. Therefore, it is possible that if hunters adjust harvest to the number of farm-reared released birds, this may lead to an overhunting of the wild breeding stocks. We investigated here whether autumn mortality by hunting of radio-tracked birds that bred in the previous summer differed between hunting estates that use or do not use releases as part of their management practices. Although our sample size was limited (32 radio-tagged birds monitored throughout the hunting season in four estates, with only one conducting releases), our results report novel data that support this cause for concern. We found that hunting was the main cause of mortality and that the proportion of hunted partridges was much higher in the estate with releases of farm-reared birds than in the three estates that did not use releases. Therefore, the release of farm-reared partridges, instead of reducing hunting pressure on the breeding stock through a potential dilution effect, may have an opposite effect. This should be confirmed with more spatial replicates, but raises serious concerns regarding the long term sustainability of wild partridge populations and their exploitation for hunting purposes in estates that overhunt partridge populations due to releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a confirmed case of pulmonary helminthiasis in a male roe deer, shot as part of hunting management. Pulmonary lesions in the form of parasitic nodules, in the absence of other pathological changes in the viscera, as well as in the carcass, did not affect the assessment of the carcass as edible. In the presented case, only internal organs were disqualified from human consumption. However, the presence of the parasite in the natural environment and the possibility of its transmission to other animals, both wild and domestic, especially sheep grazed in the area where the infected male deer was shot, presents a specific epizootic threat. This can lead to both, economic loss and the possible threat to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. In Spain, the release of farm-reared partridges to hunt is increasingly used, despite being thought to affect sustainability of wild stocks and to reduce the need of natural habitats for game. Aims. To explore the market value as a possible incentive for current management, we evaluated within a segment of the red-legged partridge hunting market whether the use of farm-reared birds (as opposed to wild stock) or the naturalisation of landscapes are affecting the hunt market price. Methods. We considered estates that sell individual hunting days and contacted buyers through advertisements. We gathered all advertisements for the 2010 season in four top hunting magazines and two websites, and conducted a telephone survey to record price and associated characteristics of hunts. We looked for relationships between price and the characteristics of sold hunts, using general linear models. Key results. Hunts varied largely in price, but neither restocking nor naturalisation of the landscape explained price variation, at least within our sample of estates. The absence of price difference between wild or released partridges could be reflecting the current difficulty to distinguish both kinds of products in the market. Conclusions. Market forces alone might not be promoting the public interest of the sustainable use of wild stocks versus industrial hunting based on farm-reared birds. Implications. If promoting conservation and sustainable use of wild stocks is considered a major goal of official institutions in charge of biodiversity conservation and game management, they should promote reliable ways of identifying estates selling wild or restocked partridges, and they should also evaluate benefits and costs associated with hunting farm-reared birds relative to wild birds, so as to help internalise these costs and benefits if necessary. A study of the determinants of hunter demands would also help explain variation in supply and market prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial heterogeneity, especially in mortality risk, is a major factor shaping population dynamics. Here we study the impacts of spatial heterogeneity in hunting pressure on the demography of Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola, a relatively long-lived migratory game bird. We develop capture-recapture-recovery models in which both seasonality and spatial variation in hunting pressure are accounted for, and fit them to individual-based data collected across the French wintering range (>44000 banded individuals) as well as recoveries from spring stopovers and breeding grounds in Europe. Our results quantify spatial variation in survival probability in the wintering areas. They highlight the role of source-sink dynamics involving juvenile settlement decisions, as well as the importance of mortality outside the winter quarters. We also discuss the impact of spatial heterogeneity for demographic parameter estimation and data collection at the range scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predator control has frequently been applied in the management of private hunting areas in recent decades. This study analyzes capture records taken during predation control carried out in areas with hunting management, in a Mediterranean environment, in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula between 1991 and 1999. Whether predator control complied with the law during this period is discussed, and the efficacy and selectivity of the methods are evaluated. Results reveal that predation control did not always comply with the law. They also indicate that the methods used were not selective, as they caught legally protected species during part of the study period. The results are examined with a view to establishing a rational management program for hunting areas and species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both evolutionary ecologists and wildlife managers make inference based on how fitness and demography vary in space. Spatial variation in survival can be difficult to assess in the wild because (1) multisite study designs are not well suited to populations that are continuously distributed across a large area and (2) available statistical models accounting for detectability less than 1.0 do not easily cope with geographical coordinates. Here we use penalized splines within a Bayesian state-space modeling framework to estimate and visualize survival probability in two dimensions. The approach is flexible in that no parametric form for the relationship between survival and coordinates need be specified a priori. To illustrate our method, we study a game species, the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, based on band recovery data (5000 individuals) collected over a >50 000-km2 area in west-central France with contrasted habitats and hunting pressures. We find that spatial variation in survival probability matches an index of hunting pressure and creates a mosaic of population sources and sinks. Such analyses could provide guidance concerning the spatial management of hunting intensity or could be used to identify pathways of spatial variation in fitness, for example, to study adaptation to changing landscape and climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to identify significant differences in the hunting management process in Poland and selected European countries in the context of their impact on the preservation of biodiversity and the implementation of the idea of sustainable development. The goal was achieved through the analysis of hunting management in selected European countries through the prism of the assumptions made by Aldo Leopold in 1933. Based on the analysis carried out, it was found that hunting management in relation to Leopold's postulates has best been undertaken by France. Moreover, the wild game management process should be actively implemented and based on the still up-to-date, universal postulates of Leopold, which can be treated as a model approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing wild boar ( Sus scrofa L.) population densities all over Europe cause severe economic problems. In popular belief, the wild boar is a more or less diurnal species, causing only minor problems when undisturbed, but is assumed to become nocturnal and wide-ranging when opposed to hunting pressure. In our study, we investigated the impact of hunting and several environmental factors on movements, spatial utilisation and activity patterns by radiotelemetry. Activity pattern revealed a mean proportion of diurnal activity of 12% of all localisations with a monthly change. The wild boar showed increased diurnal activity on undisturbed feeding habitats, especially in early summer. Different hunting methods did influence activity and spatial utilisation in terms of activity and smaller home ranges in areas with only single hunt, although this might be biased by seasonal effects. Flight distances increased significantly after single hunt and capture incidents, but still ranged inside the annual home ranges. Battues did not influence the spatial utilisation before and after hunt significantly. In only 14% of the observed cases did wild boar show small scaled escape movements after battues. The overlaps of home ranges did not change after battues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Predation risk is an important factor influencing the distribution of ungulates and their impact on forest structure. However, simultaneous predation risk by wolves and humans is rarely considered in the analyses of habitat selection by ungulates. We counted ungulate pellets on transects to analyse the influence of wolves and humans on ungulate density distribution in the Białowieża Forest, Poland. We assessed whether (1) forest exploitation influenced ungulate habitat selection, (2) ungulate density was higher in areas without human hunting, (3) ungulates avoided the surroundings of a major road, (4) prey density was higher in the strife zone between home ranges of wolf packs both in the presence and absence of human hunting, (5) ungulates avoided areas selected by wolves, and (6) wolf kill sites were in high prey density areas. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) selected unexploited over exploited forests and areas without hunting, whereas roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) preferred exploited forests. Wild boar and European bison (Bison bonasus) avoided the area within 300m of a major road, whereas we could not detect any avoidance by red or roe deer. Prey density was not higher in wolf strife zones, regardless of human hunting. Ungulates did not avoid areas selected by wolves. Wolves killed red deer in areas with prey density of about 4reddeer/km2, regardless of whether the average red deer density in those areas was higher or lower. We conclude that habitat alteration by forest exploitation and hunting by humans influenced the density distribution of ungulates more than predation risk by wolves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]