Qualitative studies have indicated that the illegal killing of wolves is often attributed a protest dimension. However, we have limited knowledge about the factors that impact this judgement. The present study investigates views on illegal wolf killing among Norwegian hunters and connects these views to background factors, hunting cultures, anti‐elitism and the legitimacy of environmental institutions, probing the existence of a ‘counterpublic’ where killing wolves is seen as justified resistance. Only a minority tolerated the activity, but compared to other hunting‐related offences, killing a wolf illegally was seen as ‘not serious’ by the largest group. Hunters with limited education, living in rural areas, and who were motivated by a ‘tradition and stewardship’ ethos when hunting, were more inclined to accept illegal killing. Anti‐elitism and lack of trust in environmental institutions were even stronger predictors. We conclude that hunting‐related issues are not among the prime drivers of support for illegal wolf hunting. Rather, it is typically part of a worldview that reflects a rural subaltern experience, comprising elements of cultural resistance. While the political dimension is not always articulated, overlooking it and treating illegal killing simply as ‘crime’ may stoke conflicts and fortify an understanding of power relations that already drives resistance.

中文翻译：

---

非法猎狼的政治层面：反精英主义，对机构缺乏信任以及挪威猎人对非法狼杀的接受

定性研究表明，非法杀害狼经常被归因于抗议活动。但是，我们对影响此判断的因素的知识有限。本研究调查了挪威猎人中关于非法杀狼的观点，并将这些观点与背景因素，狩猎文化，反精英主义和环境机构的合法性联系起来，并探讨了``反国家''的存在，在这种情况下，杀狼被视为是合理的抵抗力量。只有少数人可以容忍这种行为，但与其他与狩猎有关的犯罪相比，最大的一群人认为非法杀害狼是“不严重的”。受教育程度有限，生活在农村地区并且在狩猎时受到“传统和管理”精神激励的猎人更倾向于接受非法杀戮。反精英和对环境机构的不信任甚至是更强有力的预测指标。我们得出的结论是，与狩猎有关的问题不是支持非法狼狩猎的主要驱动力。相反，它通常是世界观的一部分，反映了乡村次要经历，包括文化抵抗因素。尽管并不总是清楚地表明政治层面，但将其忽略并简单地将非法杀戮视为“犯罪”可能会引发冲突，并加深对已经推动抵抗的权力关系的理解。包括文化抵抗的元素。尽管并不总是清楚地表明政治层面，但将其忽略并简单地将非法杀戮视为“犯罪”可能会引发冲突，并加深对已经推动抵抗的权力关系的理解。包括文化抵抗的元素。尽管并不总是清楚地表明政治层面，但将其忽略并简单地将非法杀戮视为“犯罪”可能会引发冲突，并加深对已经推动抵抗的权力关系的理解。