Recreational hunting – regulation and animal welfare concerns

Abstract

Recreational hunting in various forms and for various purposes takes place in Australia and New Zealand. Hunters hunt for recreation alone, for sport, trophies, sustenance, 'pest' con trot commercial gain (eg, bounties) or for a combination of these purposes. They do so on public and private land; alone, in private parties, or as part of commercial ventures such as game ranch hunting and safari hunting. Targeted species vary between countries and include introduced species such as banteng, buffaloes, camels, cats, deer, foxes, goats, hares, pheasants, possums, pigs, rabbits and rams. Hunting also targets native species such as waterfowl and quail in both countries, as well as macropods in Australia. Recreational hunters typically use firearms to kill the animals, and less frequently bows and arrows. Some killing is performed with bare hands, for instance in the case of muttonbirding. Dogs may be used to pursue,wound and/or retrieve the animals.