TALLINN - For some, game hunting raises a host of ethical and moral questions. Environmental experts might insist that bears and elk need to be culled in order to preserve biodiversity, but the concept of taking aim and shooting is still insurmountably objectionable for a large number of people.
Arne Ader has discovered a way to avoid the ethical dilemmas of hunting, yet still enjoy the sport. Rather than use a gun, Ader goes hunting armed with a camera.
Each year he takes part in a "bloodless hunt," an exercise organized by the State Forest Management Center to promote non-lethal ways of "capturing" animals.
Each year, a different animal is chosen as the "target" 's last year it was badgers. This year's selected species will be decided by the effects of the weather on breeding, feeding, migration and hibernation patterns. A group of 30 amateur and professional photographers take part in the event.
Like real hunters, the photographers must carefully select the time and place of the shoot. They rise at 3:30 a.m. to capture the animals as they greet the dawn, and must stealthily position themselves to avoid being detected.
The reason for their cunning is simple 's the photographers are guided by a team of real professional hunters.
"We use all the knowledge of all the people involved," Ader explains. "The hunters have a very good knowledge of the animals, so they guide us in how to find them and the best ways to track them down. In this way, it is also educational for us because we learn these techniques."
In fact, many of the hunters enjoy the photographic experience more than their usual sport.
"I have met several hunters and talked about this kind of hunt, and some told me that they would also like to hunt with cameras if good quality cameras were less expensive," Ader says.
The man in charge of organizing the yearly hunt has an apt name for the job 's Tiit Hunt (the word hunt in Estonian means 'wolf').
A biologist and nature photographer, Hunt has been coordinating the trips for nine years. In late May, he will lead yet another bloodless hunt, the ten year anniversary of such events.
"It is good for the photographers because they get to learn about different animals and plants," Hunt says.
Hunt hopes to exhibit the photographs taken on the impending trip in an exhibition at the Museum of Natural History in Tallinn later this year.
There are only a few spots remaining on the next bloodless hunt, which will take place near Paide, between Tallinn and Tartu.
More information: +372 5067 488.
