Two just-released surveys, conducted by Ipsos and the Piepoli Institute for the Capellino Foundation, draw an Italy largely distrustful of hunting. It is a sharp picture: a country where the majority recognizes, at least in theory, a management role for hunting activity, but in practice fears its effects on safety, wildlife and coexistence in rural areas.
Fear in the woods and ethical rejection of hunting
According to the Ipsos survey of a representative sample of 1,000 people, 85 percent of Italians say they feel unsafe walking in the woods or along trails during hunting season. For 81 percent, the presence of hunters disturbs the peace and alters the behavior of wild animals. On an ethical level, nearly eight out of 10 citizens consider hunting unacceptable because it involves avoidable injury, pursuit and suffering. However, more than half of the sample – 56 percent – admit that, if regulated and controlled, hunting can serve a useful function in containing supernumerary species and preventing damage to crops or livestock.
A reform that divides the country
On the relationship with tradition, the majority is also clear. Only 39% think that hunting, when sustainable and safe, should be respected as part of Italian culture. Moreover, 71% consider Law 157 of 1992 to be excellent or adequate. And more than half of respondents are unaware that a review of this legislation is underway in Parliament: among those who do know, the negative opinion clearly prevails. 61% express opposition to the reform, with higher peaks among women, older people, and center-left voters.
The parallel survey conducted by the Piepoli Institute confirms and amplifies this trend. A quarter of Italians would like to abolish hunting altogether, while another 32 percent would accept it only in exceptional situations, such as wildlife control emergencies. Seventy-one percent say they oppose the opening of hunting on species that are now protected, confirming an increasing sensitivity toward the protection of biodiversity. The motivations of those against are clear: defense of animal rights, protection of ecosystems, and concern for public safety. Many also see the hunting ban as a possible lever for developing more sustainable nature tourism.
The political figure is stark: about 70 percent of Italians do not approve of the hunting law reform promoted by the current governing majority. However, in the youngest age group, between 18 and 34, the share of those who say they are in favor is growing: 39 percent. This is a counter-trend signal that could indicate a different approach of the younger generation, more pragmatic or more distant from the ideological conflict that has characterized the hunting debate in recent decades.
In sum, an Italy emerges that is not simply “anti-hunting,” but crossed by a growing need for safety, environmental protection and regulatory clarity. Recognition of an ecological function of hunting remains minority and subject to conditions of strict control and transparency. Also striking is the lack of information about the ongoing legislative process, a sign of a communication gap between institutions, hunting associations and the public.
