Slovakia: a hunting district is recognised first on the game’s needs
The authority recognising a district looks first at whether game finds food, breeding, movement and quiet there.
The Slovak hunting act (zákon č. 274/2009 Z. z.) sets the conditions for maintaining species diversity and healthy populations of free-living game and their natural biotopes, the recognition, alteration and use of hunting districts, hunting management and planning, the protection of hunting and game, the creation and dissolution of hunting organisations, the organisation and powers of the Slovak Hunting Chamber, the conditions for taking game, compensation for damage, and the powers of the authorities. Section 3 puts the game ahead of the geometry: in recognising a district, the district office gives priority to the game's living needs, so that within the district it has adequate sources of natural food and water, guaranteed conditions for natural reproduction and development, and conditions for free movement, cover and quiet. The boundaries must then be clear on the ground: they should coincide where possible with natural or visible boundaries, the district must not contain obstacles dangerous or impassable to game that would prevent free movement, and the recognised parcels must lie wholly within the district.