Hunting in Managed Oak Woodlands: Contrasts Among Similarities

Abstract

Distinct cultural and legal histories governing the property rights that regulate wildlife and land tenure in California and Spain have created dissimilar hunting systems. The differences that are manifest in the methods of hunting, the economic return to landowners, the actions taken to manage game species, and the accompanying environmental effects. Private landowners in Spain retain greater control of game species, while in California, the state and federal government exerts greater authority. After providing background on the game species and systems of hunting in California and Spain, a review of the legal and cultural history illustrates how distinct systems evolved in places that are similar in many other ways. In terms of economics, hunting revenue in Spain is often greater than in California, due to higher hunter participation rates, fewer governmental restrictions that limit the commercialization of hunting, and greater liberties in hunting methods and game management practices. As such, income from hunting provides a greater incentive for Spanish landowners to maintain areas of habitat for game species. Some of the greatest contrasts between these places are illustrated in wildlife management practices, where Spanish landowners can implement far more intensive practices to manipulate populations of game species. Numerous environmental effects can result from these management practices, which include changes to vegetation, erosion, genetic impacts, invasive species introductions, and impacts to non-game species.