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MEANINGS OF HUNTING IN GORSKI KOT AR, CROATIA by © Vesna Kere:Z i A thesis submitted to th e School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Geography Memorial Un iversity of Newfoundland January 2013 St. John' s, Newfoundland ABSTRACT This study investigated the cultural and social aspects of hunting in the region of Gorski kotar, Croatia, by exploring meanings and perceptions of hunting to hunters and non-hunters. Specifi cally, it explored attitudes toward hunting, moti vations to hunt, and the pmiicul ar roles of hunting in the social and natural environment. Similar motivations fo r hunting were identified by both groups but their opinions regarding the relative importance of each motive varied greatl y. Tlu·ee levels of the function of hunting were recognized (i.e., personal benefits, services to local community and services to ecosystem). Hunting was perceived as an inseparable pmt of wildlife management and received a great level of suppmt from all groups. This study helped to identify the challenges for hunting in Gorski kotar and indicated the potential strategies that can support the continuation of hunting in this region, and with it the benefits it provides the social and natural environment. II DEDICATION To my loving parents, Katica and Marijan Kerezi Ill ,------------------------------------------------------------- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I wish to deeply thank to all the participants who took their time and agreed to volunteer in my study. Without their insights and opinions th ere would be no research to speak about in the first place. A sincere thank you goes to my supervisor Alistair Bath, who revealed the path of Iutman dimensions discipline for me. I am gratefitl for his invaluable support, as well as his encouragement and kindness received throughout my study. I would also like to thank my committee: Arn Keeling and Ratana Chuenpagde for th eir insightfid contribution during the various stages ofmy study. I would like to thank the organizations that provided financial and logistical support for my study: European Commission (Seventh Framework Programme), Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb. I am also ve1y gratefit! for the guidance and assistance that I received Fom my colleagues Fom the Huntingfor Sustainability project. A special thank you goes to Anke Fischerfor her extensive advice and kind words of encouragement. Many thanks to Duro Huber for his help and contribution to my study. Even more importantly, I wish to thank him for being such a supportive and considerate supervisor. A big thank you also goes to Slaven Reljic who assisted me in my data collection and was a great colleague to be working with. I am gratefitl to all the staff, colleagues and F iends of the Geography Department of Memorial University. I f eel especially lucky to be part of the small group of IV students known as the "human dimensions team ". You showed me the real power of teamwork and without your help and care I would not be able to achieve my goals. Thank you girls I A special acknowledgment goes to Aleksandra Majic Skrbinsek who believed in me fi'om the beginning and assisted me on my academic path. A deepest thank you to all my friends that were always there .for me, and who shared with me the often turbulent moments of me study. Whether you were in Croatia, Slovenia or Canada, I could always .feel your unlimited support andfor that I thank you immensely. Finally, a ve1y special thank you goes to Rod. With your endless love and encouragement you have made the entire journey much easier and a lot more entertaining. Thank you .for being such an awesome supporter along the way! v Table of Contents ABSTRACT ......................... .... .... ....... ... ... .... ....... ... .................... ..... .. ...... ........... .... ii DEDICATION ... ..... .... ........... ............ .... .... .. ...... ..... ... ... .. ......... .. ........ .................... ii i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......... .... .. ... ......... ........ .. ... ... ... .... .......... .................. ..... iv Table of Contents ....... .......... ......... ................ ... ... .. .. ..... ......... ... ...... .. ... ... .. .............. vi List ofTabl es ............... ............ .... ... .. ... ........ ........... .. ................ ... ...... ...... ... ............. x List of Figures ...... ............... .............. .... ..................... .. ... ........ .. ... ........................ .. xi List of Symbols ................ .. ............................ ......... .. .. .......... ........................ .... .. .. xii List of Abbreviations .................... .... .. .. .. ........ ... .. ... ...................... .. .............. .. ...... xiii I. Introduction ... .. ........... ... ..... .... ... .. .. ...... ..... .... ... .. .. .......... .. ... ... ... ................. 1 1.1. Research problem ... ... ....... ....... ............. .... ..... ... ....... .... ...... ............ ......... .. .. 5 1.2. Research context. ... .. ...... ..... ........ .. .. ................. .. ....................... .... .............. 9 1.3. Purpose of the study .... ... ... ............... .................. ...................... .. ........ .... .. 11 1.4. Thesis outline .. ......... ......... ................ ......... ... ........ .. ...... .... .. .. ............ ... ..... 14 2. Literature Review .......... .......... .. .. ................... ............. ....... .. .. ... .. ............ 16 2. 1 An introduction: Changing nature of hunting .. .... .. ...... .. .............. ............ 16 2.2 Definitions and types of hunting ...................... .. .............................. .. .. .. .. 20 2.3 Chall enges of modern sport hunting: anti-hunting versus pro- hunting debate .... .... ... ............ .... .... .. ... .... ............. ... ........ ................. .. ....... 23 2.4 Hunting and the Human dimensions of wildlife management ................. 29 VI 2.4.1 Understanding hunters from a human dimension perspective ........... 30 2.4.2 The future of hunting: Understanding attitudes toward hunting ... .. ... 34 2.5 Widening the meanings of hunting: Cultural studies on hunting .. .......... .40 2.5. 1 Hunting for identity: masculinity, rurality and tradition in studies on hunting ... ......................... .. .. ... .. ............... ................. ........ .. 4 1 3 Study area .. .... ...................... ..... .......... ............. .. .......................... ........... 52 4 Methods ................ ... ............................................. ................... ................ 62 4. 1 Methods for collecting data ............................. .. .. .. .. .......... .............. ........ 63 4.1.1. Individual interviews .... .. .. ............................ .... ... ...... ................. ....... 64 4.1.2. Focus group ................................................... ........ ... ... ..... ...... .. ......... 66 4. 1.3. Multi-method approach: using focus groups and individual interviews for gathering data ....................... ............................. ... ..... 68 4.2 Data coll ection ........................ .. .. ........... .. .. ...... ........... .......... .. ... .... .... ..... 71 4.3 Data analysis .. ........................................................... .. ..... ....... .. ..... ... ... ... 77 4 .3 .1. Familiarizing yourself with your data ... ........... .. ... ....... ...... ........ ....... 79 4.3.2. Generating initial codes ..................................................................... 80 4.3.3. Searching forthemes .... ............................................... .......... ............ 81 4.3.4. Reviewing themes ............... .. ................................... .. .. ................ ... .. 82 4.3.5. Defining and naming themes ............... ......... .............. ..................... .. 83 4.3 .6. Producing the report .................. .......................... ......................... ..... 84 5 Results ........... .. .. ... .................. ... .... ....... ... ......... ............. .......... .. ............. 85 Vll 5.1 Hunting community ................ .. .. .. ............... .. .. ............................... ..... .... 89 5.1.1. Sense of belonging (category) ................ .... ........... .. ...... ......... ........... 89 5.1.2. Sense of responsibility (category) ... .. ... ... ...... ....... ....... ............ ......... 93 5.1 .3 . The Proper hunter (category) .. ....... .. .......... ...... .......................... .. ...... 95 5.2 Multiple dimensions ofhunting .................... ....... .... .. .. .. ........... .......... .. .. I0 1 5.2.1 . Diversity of motivations (category) ........ ........ ... ... ..................... ... ... 10 I 5.2.2. Diversity of functions (category) ..... .. .......... ... ......... .............. .... ... ... 109 5.3 Hunting for wildlife management ....... .... ...................... .. ... .. .. ..... ... .. ...... 128 5.3.1. Attitudes towards nature (category) ..... ... .. ... .. ........ ... ..... .. ... .. ... .. .... 128 5.3.2. Quest for balance (category) .............. ................. ........ .. .. .... ............ 132 5.3.3. The notion of game management (category) ........ ........................... 134 5.4 Summary ... ... ... .... ......... ....................... ... .... ....... .... ... ... .............. ....... ....... 139 6 Discussion and