Abstract
This study addresses the issue of small game populations, which have shown a significant decline in numbers over the last decades. Populations of hares, pheasants and partridges are subject to hunting management by hunters in changing environmental and legal conditions. Hunting management of individual species based on the annual assessment of their numbers allows for optimizing management activities regarding decisions on shooting, limiting or suspending hunting, and possible reintroduction of animals in areas where populations are at risk. These activities also include planning and intensifying the fight against game predators, one of the critical ecosystem elements influencing the described species’ population dynamics. It should be noted that over the last decade, the involvement of hunters in the repopulation of natural ecosystems with small game has decreased. This is due both to economic factors related to the operation of hunting clubs and to increasing fees for hunting, as well as cyclical legal difficulties. Nevertheless, no group other than hunters has been undertaking and continuing the described initiatives for many years. However, on a smaller scale, they are perfectly in line with the protection and development of biodiversity.