Determination of hunting tourism potential of Muğla province

Hunting tourism is one of the economically important sources of income for countries. The aim of this thesis is to determine the current status of the hunting tourism potential of Muğla province with scientific data and to make suggestions regarding the existing problems. In this study, photo trap establishment and monitoring studies were carried out for the detection of wild animals in Seydikemer, Fethiye, Datça, Köyceğiz and Yılanlı Çakmak Wildlife Management Areas in Muğla province between 2017-2020 years. The conservation status of the identified species has been recorded. A questionnaire study was conducted in qualitative research designs designed in the "Phenomenology" pattern with the representatives of the companies that organize organizations within the scope of hunting tourism. The evaluation of the obtained data was carried out by the method of "Content analysis". Wild goat (Capra aegagrus), Grey wolf (Canis lupus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Fallow deer (Dama dama), Eurasian badger (Meles meles), Caracal (Caracal caracal), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), Beech marten (Martes foina) species have been recorded in study area. As a result of the questionnaire study, four sub-goals and the themes were obtained. In this context, the most important reason why Muğla province is preferred in hunting organizations is that the population of game animals is at a sufficient level. The most preferred species in hunting organizations are Sus scrofa, Cervus elaphus and Capra aegagrus respectively. As a result of the settlement studies in Muğla province, Dama dama is thought to be a potential species in terms of hunting tourism. It has been determined that hunting organizations where more than one species are hunted, is between 6-11 at most. It has been determined that foreign tourists coming for hunting tourism show interest in cultural tourism and especially boat tours. It has been determined that the main complaints in hunting organizations are poaching, low sanctions, and defects in protection-control activities. Within the scope of hunting organizations, there are drive hunt demands for Capra aegagrus.