Current Affairs Czech Republic's hunting grounds attract foreign visitors

Photo: CTK Hunting and shooting have a long tradition in the Czech lands. The hunts are accompanied by rites and ceremonies, observing an unwritten code of ethics. Ludek Kralicek of the Czech Hunters' Union.

"The Czech tradition of game management appeals to foreign hunters. They admire the rituals accompanying the hunt. They are also attracted by the fact that compared to other European countries game is still plentiful here. This year we hosted a falconers' conference and the participants were amazed at the numbers of animals in our hunting grounds. But of course, they used to be more numerous in the past."

Photo: CTK As Ludek Kralicek says hunting in the Czech Republic is far from being just a sport. The Czech word "myslivost" is derived from the verb "myslet" - to think, and the autumn hunts are just one part of "thoughtful game management" all year round.

"It's not common in all European countries for hunting to involve sustainable landscape management, benefiting all species. Our members feed the game all year round, plant spinneys and create favourable conditions for the animals. These efforts help keep the numbers of animals up. In some countries it is just a sport. They don't have the term 'myslivost' or 'thoughtful management'. 'Myslivost' isn't hunting."

Photo: CTK While in some countries, hunting is a sport of the privileged classes, in the Czech Republic it is a hobby of the common man. The Czech Hunters' Union has almost 100,000 members, all of them have to take active part in forest management.

The popular nature of hunting in the Czech Republic does not deter the bluebloods of Europe from using its hunting grounds, most recently the kings of Sweden and Spain. Before he became president, George W. Bush shot a moufflon in the Czech Republic. As Ludek Kralicek of the Czech Hunters' Union says, they travel incognito - and not just for security reasons.