Public attitudes towards recreational hunting and hunters in Hungary and implications for wildlife governance

Abstract Public debates about hunting in Europe are increasingly shaped by ethical, ecological and socio-economic considerations, yet representative data on public views remain scarce, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. This study presents the first national survey of public perceptions of recreational hunting in Hungary, based on a quota sample of 1,002 adults. Hungary has a strong hunting tradition and a wildlife management system in which regulated hunting is regarded as a population management tool. Exploratory factor and cluster analyses identified four attitudinal dimensions: perceived ecological and economic utility, moral-ethical opposition, recreational and traditional motivation, and perceived elite status of hunting. Cluster analysis identified three public segments: Tradition & Recreation Supporters (45.1%), Pragmatic Acceptors (31.7%), and Moral Opponents (23.2%). Positive attitudes toward nature and wildlife were not consistently associated with support for hunting. Segments differed significantly by gender, place of residence, and environmental engagement. Spontaneous associations with hunting were ambivalent, with game management and population control mentioned most frequently, followed by violence-related imagery, nature, recreation and leisure. Respondents underestimated the number of hunters, suggesting limited awareness of the hunting community. Findings suggest that wildlife governance and hunting associations may benefit from communication and engagement tailored to public segments.