Illegal killing of wildlife is challenging conservation efforts worldwide. Ecological research has shown that illegal killing is severely affecting the transboundary Swedish-Norwegian wolf population. A previous study indicated that unwillingness to report illegal killing of wolves among Swedish hunters contains an element of protest against perceived unjust treatment of hunting and hunters but that it could also simply be a reflection of ineffective law enforcement in the backcountry, driving hunters to effect forms of self-policing. Based on a survey of Norwegian hunters, the present research goes one step further. One in five hunters decline to report illegal wolf killings, and unwillingness to report is predicted by lack of trust in environmental institutions and a general anti-elite sentiment. Hunting-related issues and other factors also affect outcomes, but to a lesser degree. We conclude that unwillingness to report is often part of an oppositional stance related not only to wildlife management and conservation, but to contemporary social change in rural areas and perceived societal power relations. It is unlikely that reluctance to report is driven by frustration over inefficient official enforcement. While a political dimension is not always articulated, overlooking it may stoke conflicts and fortify a perception of unjust power relations.

非法捕杀野生动物正在对全世界的保护工作提出挑战。生态研究表明，非法猎杀正在严重影响跨界的瑞典-挪威狼种群。先前的一项研究表明，瑞典猎人不愿报告非法猎杀狼的行为包含了抗议对狩猎和猎人的不公正待遇的抗议，但它也可能只是反映了边远地区执法不力，驱使猎人影响形式的自我监管。根据对挪威猎人的调查，本研究更进一步。五分之一的猎人拒绝报告非法猎杀狼的行为，而不愿报告的原因是对环境机构缺乏信任和普遍的反精英情绪。狩猎相关问题和其他因素也会影响结果，但程度较小。我们得出的结论是，不愿报告往往是反对立场的一部分，不仅与野生动物管理和保护有关，而且与当代农村地区的社会变革和感知的社会权力关系有关。不愿报告的原因不太可能是对官方执法效率低下的挫败感。虽然并不总是明确表达政治维度，但忽视它可能会引发冲突并强化对不公正权力关系的看法。不愿报告的原因不太可能是对官方执法效率低下的挫败感。虽然并不总是明确表达政治维度，但忽视它可能会引发冲突并强化对不公正权力关系的看法。不愿报告的原因不太可能是对官方执法效率低下的挫败感。虽然并不总是明确表达政治维度，但忽视它可能会引发冲突并强化对不公正权力关系的看法。