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Currently, the main focus of hunting is on ungulates who are hunted for their meat as well as for trophies. The hunting of small carnivores (raccoon dog, fox, pine marten, mink) is currently rather of conservationist nature due to the decline in the fur market; the numbers of these species are cut down because of their potential adverse impact on other species. Beavers need to be hunted because of the damages they cause. Large carnivores (wolf, bear, lynx) are hunted both for trophies as well as for the purpose of regulating their numbers. Changes in agriculture and forestry have created favourable living conditions (including nutrition and hiding conditions) for the herbivores, but have also decreased the role of large carnivores as regulators of the numbers of different species. Therefore, the population of cervids has increased rapidly and the conflict between hunting and agriculture has grown more critical. A decline in the number and impact of top predators has, in turn, given rise to a situation where prey species are beginning to influence biological diversity in a negative way. For example, the cervids damage aspen and ash stands; the wild boar, foxes and raccoon dogs hunt birds nesting on the ground and small mammals. Plans related to hunting activities shall always take into consideration that the numbers of popular species of game (e.g. the wild boar) should not be increased to an excessive extent while forgetting their adverse impact on ecological balance. The fact that there are alien species of unpopular game (raccoon dog and mink) in our ecosystems is a natural disaster in itself and, without hunting activities, it would very hard to find a solution or alleviation to the problem.
Trends of development Since the foundation of the Estonian Hunters' Society in 1967, national management and organisational structure of hunting activities have remained stable. Neither have there been changes in hunting laws, i.e. according to the legislation in force, game animals are still ownerless property and not connected to ownership of land. This legal continuity has ensured the maintenance of hunting districts formed in the 1960s and the right of hunting organisations, which have essentially not changed from that time, to use these hunting districts to date. However, changes in the society are also affecting hunting activities. Future developments will be very much dependent on the readiness of hunting organisations to engage in the prevention of or compensation for damages caused by game animals and in the inclusion of land owners in hunting activities. Otherwise, the feeling of justice of the rural population and the desire of land owners to earn income from hunting or to find alternative income, first and foremost, for covering the costs of damages caused by game animals, will become a serious issue of concern. Another inseparable issue of such debates is the environmental and social impact related to the use of privately owned natural resources. The Hunting Development Plan makes provisions for changes in the practical management of hunting activities, i.e. increasing the role and responsibility of hunters in the management of hunting activities while decreasing the administrative burden of the state. In summer 2009, the Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi and the chairman of the Estonian Hunters' Society Margus Puust signed an administration contract, handing over the following areas of activity to the Society: issuing of hunting certificates, training in the field of hunting, organisation of exams and shooting tests, and issuing of respective certificates and registration thereof. |
