Hokkaido authorities returned a rifle to a hunter after a court set aside the revocation of his license. The revocation was based on concerns that his 2018 shooting of a brown bear, at the request of Sunagawa city government, could have damaged nearby structures.
Hokkaido authorities returned a rifle to a hunter following a court decision that set aside the revocation of his hunting license. The revocation stemmed from a 2018 incident where the hunter shot a brown bear at the request of the Sunagawa city government, with officials citing risks to nearby structures.
According to The Japan Times, the court ruled the revocation invalid, restoring the hunter's license. This case highlights tensions between local government requests for bear culls and strict hunting safety regulations in the region.
With the rifle returned, the hunter can resume legal hunting activities. The ruling comes amid ongoing debates over wildlife management and hunting oversight in Hokkaido.