Drive counts as a method of estimating ungulate density in forests: mission impossible?

Although drive counts are frequently used to estimate the size of deer populations in forests, little is known about how counting methods or the density and social organization of the deer species concerned influence the accuracy of the estimates obtained, and hence their suitability for informing management decisions. As these issues cannot readily be examined for real populations, we conducted a series of ‘virtual experiments’ in a computer simulation model to evaluate the effects of block size, proportion of forest counted, deer density, social aggregation and spatial auto-correlation on the accuracy of drive counts. Simulated populations of red and roe deer were generated on the basis of drive count data obtained from Polish commercial forests. For both deer species, count accuracy increased with increasing density, and decreased as the degree of aggregation, either demographic or spatial, within the population increased. However, the effect of density on accuracy was substantially greater than the effect of aggregation. Although improvements in accuracy could be made by reducing the size of counting blocks for low-density, aggregated populations, these were limited. Increasing the proportion of the forest counted led to greater improvements in accuracy, but the gains were limited compared with the increase in effort required. If it is necessary to estimate the deer population with a high degree of accuracy (e.g. within 10% of the true value), drive counts are likely to be inadequate whatever the deer density. However, if a lower level of accuracy (within 20% or more) is acceptable, our study suggests that at higher deer densities (more than ca. five to seven deer/100 ha) drive counts can provide reliable information on population size

Seasonal variations of the digestive tract of the Eurasian beaver castor fiber.

Forage availability for wild rodents varies with season. In turn, the composition of food can affect morphometric parameters of the digestive tract. This study was performed in Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) whose population was close to extinction in most Eurasian countries, but has now increased. Due to the previous low number of studies, information about the effect of forage availability on the digestive tract morphology has previously been lacking. This study was performed using beavers captured from the natural environment during three seasons of different forage availability: winter, summer and autumn. It was found that the diet of the beaver varied during the year; in winter it was dominated by woody material consisting of willow shoots, whereas in summer the diet was primarily herbs, grass and leaves. Season also affected the mass of digested contents of the digestive tract. The digestive content increased in the caecum and colon in winter and autumn, when poor-quality food dominated the beaver's diet. The results indicated that the digestive tract parameters of beavers varied based on the composition of available forage

Threatened future of hunting in the contemporary world

The future of hunting is threatened in Europe by negative trends developing in the population of hunters. Among these trends three are remarkable, namely: declining number of hunters, aging of hunter population, and declining recruitment. Sustaining number of hunters should be a challenge of the 21st century. It will require a better knowledge of hunter population dynamics. We need to focus on hunters’ attitudes and join up with human demographers and population experts to examine those trends. An international center for the study of hunter population could be a solution

Tourist hunting and its impact on wildlife management

Tourist hunting is acquiring an impetus and global dimension. At present there are worldwide 85 supply countries offering some 180 game species. The Eurasian market is much smaller. It consists of 18 demand and 38 supply countries. The offer includes 29 ungulate and 15 predatory species. The 6.5 mill. Of European hunters spend about 10 billions euro annually to practice their hobby. Out of this some 40−50 mill.euro yearly are spent on tourist hunting within Eurasia

Recreational hunting

Recreational hunting is perceived as the future of hunting in general. Paper gives the characteristics of this phenomenon in the world, Europe and Poland. Recreational hunter is characterized with regard to their sex, age, social origin, level of education, income and hunting effectiveness. This hunting effectiveness is hopelessly low, since the goal of this hobby is recreation, not necessarily efficient harvest. The future of hunting, its prospects and interrelationships are briefly discussed

Polish hunting under conditions of our membership in the European Union

The paper describes the legal and political environment for the functioning of Polish hunting under conditions created by Polish membership in the European Union. Trends in populations of most important game species since 1982 are presented. Unfavourable changes in natural environment were briefly indicated. Demographic, social, and economic profile of hunters' population was presented. Perception of hunting by society in large was described . New situation depicted requires the development of new strategy for tackling problems of hunting and wildlife management