The hunting value of game in Sweden: Have changes occurred over recent decades?

This short communication deals with the hunting value of all game in Sweden, specifically changes over time in value and value components, and differences between the northern and southern parts of the country. The investigation was based on two mail surveys, one conducted in 1987 and the other in 2006. The results suggested that the gross hunting value and the hunting cost share of this value increased over the two decades. The consumer surplus (net value) share decreased correspondingly, while the recreation share and the meat share of the hunting value were more stable over time. It appeared that in 1987 as well as in 2006 the southern Swedish hunters tended to value their hunting higher than the hunters in northern Sweden, especially when it came to the recreation. The results should be relevant in the context of game management, adaptive game management in particular.