Hunters' opposition to harmful hunting practices on ecosystems: values, beliefs, norms, and identities

Abstract

AbstractIn North America, legal hunting is considered a key component in wildlife management and conservation; however, hunters' relationships with ecosystem health and integrity are rarely explored. In this study, we recruited an online panel of hunters in the United States (n = 508) in 2018 to assess their opinions about hunting‐related practices that often negatively affect biodiversity and ecosystem health (i.e., exotic breeding, stock breeding, and game farming). We investigated the underlying socio‐psychological factors influencing hunters' opinions about these practices based on the value‐belief‐norm and identity theories. Hunter identity, personal norms, and awareness of the negative consequences on ecosystems are associated with opposition to hunting‐related practices that harm ecosystems. We suggest that outreach and education programs targeting hunters should focus on leveraging their existing identities and promoting awareness of the negative consequences of certain hunting practices on biodiversity and ecosystem health. By highlighting these consequences and emphasizing the role of ecosystem health and biodiversity in the long‐term sustainability of hunting opportunities, such programs can effectively encourage hunters to adopt ecosystem stewardship behaviors.