Efficiency of Calibre and Charge in Brown Bear Hunting from an Elevated Hide at a Feeding Site

Abstract

U razdoblju 2006. – 2015. godine prikupljeno je 233 upitnika o lovu na smeđeg medvjeda (Ursus arctos) u Republici Hrvatskoj. Upitnik se sastojao od 31 pitanja, podijeljenih na pitanja o okolnostima u kojima je medvjed odstrijeljen i pitanja o kalibru puške i tipu zrna koji su bili upotrijebljeni pri odstrelu. Nakon osnovne statističke obrade okolnosti učinkovitost pojedinačnog lova na medvjede procijenili smo usporedbom uvjeta prilikom odstrela medvjeda koji su pali u prvom hicu naspram onih koji su nakon prvog hica pobjegli s mjesta na kojem se pucalo. Rezultati pokazuju da ženke i medvjedi manje mase imaju veću vjerojatnost da padnu u prvom hicu od mužjaka i većih medvjeda. Vrijeme koje je lovac proveo na čeki nije značajno utjecalo na učinkovitost odstrela, dok je veća učinkovitost bila prilikom odstrela s veće udaljenosti. Položaj medvjeda i mjesto na tijelu u koje su medvjedi bili pogođeni te izbor kalibra imali su značajan utjecaj na učinkovitost lova. Analizom smo htjeli doprinjeti većoj učinkovitosti u lovu na zadovoljstvo lovca te također u pogledu dobrobiti životinje koja se odstrijeljuje.Large carnivore management has many challenges, especially when species is both protected by law and hunted, such is the case with brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Croatia. Implementation of measures for securing co-existence of man and growing bear population is regulated by the official document, the Brown Bear Management Plan for the Republic of Croatia. The annual harvesting quota, equaling 10 - 15% of the total estimated population size is revised each year and up to 120 bears are commercially hunted each year. In the period from 2006 to 2015, a total of 233 questionnaires on brown bear hunting in were collected. The questionnaire consists of 31 question, divided into two groups. The first one includes questions about the circumstances in which the bear was shot, while the second one covers the types of rifle calibers and cartridges used in the shooting. After the statistical analysis of the circumstances, the effectiveness of hunting patterns was evaluated by comparing the conditions of hunting the bears that died immediately at the shooting location (45%) with the ones who fled from the shooting location (55%). The results showed that females and smaller bears were more likely to fall from the first shot, while duration of period hunters spent on the tower did not significantly affect the effectiveness of the fired hits. Surprisingly, the efficiency of the shot was greater with the greater distance from the animal, probably because hunters were able to concentrate better and were calmer. The position of the bear at the moment of firing, the location at the body where the bear was shot and the choice of the caliber had a significant impact on the effectiveness of hunting. By analyzing the collected data, we wanted to contribute to greater efficiency in hunting for the hunter’s content and in terms of the welfare of the harvested animals