Wildlife management systems face growing challenges to cope with increasingly complex interactions between wildlife populations, the environment and human activities. In this position statement, we address the most important issues characterising current ungulate conservation and management in Europe. We present some key points arising from ecological research that may be critical for a reassessment of ungulate management in the future.

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The purpose of the study is to develop in hunting management the approaches to identifying, evaluating and accounting the socio-ecological phenomena of hunter specialization (by types of hunting, game caught) and the interchangeability of hunts, taking into account the presence of a market sector in the area under consideration. The research used the methods of interdisciplinary analogies and semi-structured interviews in addition to general scientific methods. A comparison of hunts close in formal characteristics was made, their significant differences were revealed. It is noted that comparisons can be made for many hunts, and their quantitative and qualitative differences will be more significant. The wide distribution and relative stability of hunters' preferences are shown. A definition of the concept of hunt interchangeability has been developed.   The structural elements of this definition determine the algorithm of practical survey, which is necessary at the design stage of changing the protection regime and the use of hunting resources. Recommendations are given on the practical analysis  of the interchangeability of hunts practiced in certain areas, the inclusion of the results in strategic planning documents and the consideration in planning management decisions that provide for the prohibition of separate hunts. It is pointed out that ignoring the phenomenon of hunters' specialization when setting hunting restrictions can lead to a complete or partial loss of this hunt, related knowledge, abilities and skills. Especially dangerous is the loss of highly specialized hunts, including the use of specially bred decoying and catching animals. Other undesirable consequences may be a reduction in the social base of hunting in general, as well as an increasing protested or constrained poaching. The combination of these and other negative phenomena creates a threat to the sustainability of the use of hunting resources.