The practice of hunting as a way to transcend alienation from nature

This paper explores whether and to what extent the practice of leisure hunting is used asa way to transcend the human-nature alienation and thereby reconcile modern society and nature.The study is based on semi-structured interviews with hunters around Stockholm, Sweden andparticipant observation. In the paper, modernity is discussed from a Marxist perspective as causingthe alienation of human beings from nature and natural sources of production through processes ofindustrialisation, capitalism and urbanisation. By exploring hunting as an ancient activity in amodern society the paper further discusses whether hunting can, through managing and harvestingwildlife, offer some kind of insight into people’s interaction with natural sources of production. Thequestion is whether hunting has the potential to facilitate a more profound appreciation of wildlifeand ecosystems by reconnecting people with nature. The effects of Modernity on hunting are alsodiscussed to reflect some of the paradoxes and internal contradictions that exist within hunting.