The problem remains the groundswell of public protest that developed after the government announced a new permit allocation procedure requiring hunting companies to bid for permits. Although the auction idea itself has been applauded in the international hunting community for making the permit system more transparent, hunting organizers protested its sudden implementation so close to the opening of the hunting season. At that point, the policy went back under review and for unknown reasons was put out for public comment. That was how the general public learned for the first time that international hunting was occurring in the country. That led to many misconceptions about hunting endangered species and other alleged abuses. It also appears to have created some envy on the part of wealthy residents who are not allowed to hunt themselves.
At this writing, the State Forestry Administration is working with wildlife authorities in different provinces to create a Management Measures on Hunting document that will spell out all aspects of hunting in China, including population surveys of all game species, how hunting quotas are determined and how much income is generated and funneled back to conservation efforts. In the meantime, efforts to educate the public will continue. In-country sources were hopeful that the Management Measures on Hunting document would be completed and public opinion turned in time to open the spring seasons in February when the sheep and takin hunts begin.
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