Sociological analysis of the Spanish hunters

Abstract

Spain is considered as a paradise for hunting, and hunting involves more than 1 million people of very different backgrounds throughout the whole of the national territory. This occupation integrates different actors, activities, points of view, and game species. We aimed to assess the social significance of this activity from the point of view of the main actors -the hunters. Methods: interpretive phenomenological analysis of hunter responses to a structured questionnaire. We analyzed contents of a monthly section in a hunter´s magazine that consisted of a fixed questionnaire to hunters and game practitioners, which included questions such as “your best hunting experience,' “how do you see the future of hunting,' “name a hunter you are proud of” or “who/what merits a shot of salt in the derrière”. Responses were coded and analyzed according to three major topics: evaluations of hunting as an activity, strengths and weaknesses of the hunting world; position of hunters within society; and perceived changes and future of hunting. A total of 108 questionnaires (from 2003 to 2011) have been collected. We present preliminary results from an initial exploratory analysis of a total of 35 questionnaires.