Game management as a condition to justify the hunting of birds – in the light of the principles of the legal system of the protection of animals

Abstract

In Poland, the list of hunting animals contains 13 species of wild birds. Every year, hunters obtain from 2 to 12% of the population of birdlife – circa 120 thousand of birds. The killing of these animals is justified by the implementation of wildlife management. According to art. 4(1) of Hunting Law Act “game management” means “activities for the conservation, breeding and raising animals”. Opponents of hunting, however, argue that in relation to birds hunters do not carry the typical wildlife management. Firstly, from the natural and economic point of view there is no reason to reduce number of birds and secondly, non-selective methods of killing birds may result in hunting accidents of people and accidental killing of protected species.

The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the legal controversy related to the hunting of birds. Game management is proclaimed as the justification of killing birds, both in the light of the principles of the system of protection of animals, as well as hunting law, and because of that game management should be taken under close scrutiny. Another such legal controversy is the lack of humane standards of killing animals. Furthermore, certain natural issues related to the exercise of birds hunting are also discussed in the article.