The Ladoga region has always been an important hunting area in the European North. Major hunting activities can be subdivided into (1) amateur hunting, (2) hunting of fur animals, and (3) hunting of ungulate animals. Lately however its value dropped due to socio-economic reasons.
The dynamics of the region's socio-economic and natural characteristics, as well as the dynamics of the abundance of the mammal populations themselves, makes the degree of their exploitation vary across years. Dynamics of the degree of yield of the major hunted animals are assessed irregularly and only in some areas of the Ladoga region. Data on hunting for some fur animals, ungulate species and some birds is available for the southern districts of the Region (Table 7.7.1).
Table 7.7.1. Yield (individuals) of the major hunted animals in the Leningrad region
Species
1996
1997
Red squirrel
1840
2633
Muskrat
-
2189
American beaver
110
16
Variable hare
-
6281
European harå
-
456
Brown bear
-
7
European wolf
361
317
Red fox
87
278
Racoon dog
-
74
European lynx
-
3
Badger
6
5
Pine marten
210
340
American mink
-
292
Polecat
-
36
Elk
210
217
European wild boar
29
22
Wood grouse
260
189
Black grouse
91
106
Hazel grouse
860
880
Note: "-" - no data.
Amateur hunting. Officially allowed amateur hunting has been kept on a relatively stable level for many years. Major hunting resources are pine wood birds and waterfowl as well as some species of ungulate animals. Ladoga region has a good potential for development of amateur hunting (national and international game tourism) due to both rich nature and location not far from St.Petersburg and border with Finland. Road infrastructure is also relatively well developed in some areas. However, illegal hunting has grown up considerably in the recent years because of decrease in the wealth being of local people. Special investigation is needed to evaluate consequences of illegal hunting for a number of bird and animal populations in the region.
Hunting for fur animals. The bulk of fur animal hunting in the 1960's-70's was comprised of mole, red squirrel, pine marten and red fox. In the 19890's-90's the leading position in this sphere was taken over by the species that were acclimatised in the region - racoon dog, muskrat, European beaver and American mink. Due to the economic situation in the country many species of fur animals have lately been practically not hunted. Hunters prefer economically profitable animals - red fox, racoon dog, marten and mink. However, general reduction in demand for fur products among the population made hunter less interested in the business.
Hunting for ungulate species. The abundance of game mammals varies considerably under the effect of human activities. Where before the beginning of the 1990's ungulate stocks in the Leningrad region were quite stable, the abundance of wild boar and moose has lately been reducing markedly. The reduction in ungulate stocks is due to overhunting connected with the economic recession in the country (low life standard of the rural population resulting in increased hunting load). Furthermore, in recent years the issued moose and wild boar hunting licences cannot be fully realised because of the low abundance of the animals (Table 7.7.2).
Table 7.7.2. Yield (ind.) of the major hunted mammals in southern Lake Ladoga districts in 1997
Species
Volkhovsky
Vsevolozhsky
Kirovsky
Lodejnopolsky
Priozersky
Red squirrel
77
61
11
48
67
Muskrat
32
35
-
37
1342
Variable hare
633
181
328
235
274
Brown bear
-
-
4
-
-
European wolf
26
2
11
12
13
Red fox
5
13
-
-
38
Racoon dog
8
-
-
-
20
European lynx
-
-
-
-
1
Badger
1
-
-
-
-
Pine marten
25
3
3
4
22
American mink
7
-
-
9
57
Polecat
3
-
-
-
8
Elk
13/17
10/15
12/15
8/9
28/33
European wild boar
5/8
2/5
1/4
-
4/11
Note. for elk and wild boar: figures on the left hand of the slash are the bag, on the right hand - number of licenses issued.
Hunting in general is not the leading economic sector in the Ladoga region. Traditional hunting for fur animals has decreased significantly due to the lack of market for the fur products in Russia. At the same time, however, illegal hunting increased considerably and sufficient measures have to be elaborated to reduce its' negative impact on hunted animal populations. The Ladoga region is also an appropriate place for setting up of the game tourism industry, however, no program for its' development has ever been discussed. One more important way to preserve and maintain populations of hunted animals and birds together with their habitats is to develop a system of protected areas of various status and start awareness building among the local people and hunters in the Region.
