Individual Characteristics and Hunting Practices Associated with Hunting Participation in Spain

Abstract

The decline in the number of hunters may affect wildlife management, while overabundant game populations pose challenges for human activities and ecosystems. In this context, understanding hunter recruitment and retention is increasingly relevant. We used a survey to examine how individual characteristics and hunting-related practices associate with hunting participation in Spain. Hunting interest in game species varied by sex, age and hunting type, being higher in women, declining with age, and generally higher for big game. Sex differences were bigger for big game, and age-related declines were more pronounced for big than for small game. The probability that the father was the first hunting companion decreased with age and was higher in women, while dog use declined with age and showed no sex differences. These findings provide insights for context-specific and socially informed approaches to hunter recruitment and retention strategies.