<b>Exploring the influence of intensive management practices on recreational hunters' satisfaction: a case study of red deer big game in Spain</b>

Recreational hunting, particularly trophy big game hunting, significantly influences large territories and demands specific wildlife management measures. The pursuit of maximum hunter satisfaction can compromise species conservation. Is key to identify the factors that drive the satisfaction of recreational trophy hunters. We investigated the factors influencing recreational trophy hunters' satisfaction in Southern Spain. We attended 20 dog-driven Iberian red deer hunts, collecting geographical and biometrical data from 556 hunted specimens and conducting 159 face-to-face surveys with hunters. Based on partial least-square path models, we found that overall satisfaction was positively correlated with achievement, appreciation, and service dimensions. Contextual variables, including hunters' experience, hunting scenarios, and individual and group hunting bags, showed different effects on these satisfaction dimensions. Several dimensions of hunters' satisfaction were affected by management decisions, which may have implications for conservation within our study system and broader implications for natural game management versus canned hunt practices.