Ethical Hunting Frameworks in Slovakia: A Meta-Analysis of Normative Documents

Abstract This study examines selected ethical frameworks that shape hunting in Slovakia, focusing on the Code of Ethics and Hunting Regulations. The objectives and societal significance of hunting and game management in the context of current legislation and the conceptual foundations of contemporary Slovak hunting are outlined in the Introduction section. The following analytical sections examine selected ethical documents regulating hunting in Slovakia, focusing on their function, content, and form, ethical elaboration, normative relevance, and philosophical foundations. This study identifies the possible strengths and weaknesses of these normative ethical documents and proposes revisions to enhance their ethical and philosophical quality. The results show that both documents are primarily based on an anthropocentric philosophical framework. The analysis reveals that the Hunter’s Code of Ethics primarily fulfills an aspirational (ideational) function, whereas the Hunting Regulations serve a regulatory function. This study suggests that a reasonable integration of both documents would increase their professional value and support Slovakia’s institutionalization of hunting ethics.