Food security drives local hunting of a boreal ungulate during a global pandemic

Understanding how crises impact local hunters and wildlife is imperative for developing adaptive strategies to navigate these disruptions. COVID-19 caused widespread disruptions to socioecological systems, yet the response of local hunters to the global pandemic remains understudied. I examined hunting permit sales, harvest records, and hunter effort and motivation data to investigate how the pandemic influenced bison (Bison bison) hunters in the Yukon. Following the onset of COVID-19, the number of permits sold, and bison harvested, increased by 13% and 21%, respectively. Although harvest numbers quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels afterward, the number of permits sold continued to rise, indicating sustained interest. Hunters indicated that increased interest and opportunity during the pandemic were driven by concerns over food security. Less tangible motivations-such as spending time outdoors with family and friends-were also important. My findings reveal how global crises can temporarily increase hunting pressure in some socioecological systems. Wildlife managers should anticipate increased interest and opportunity by local hunters during disruptions to food supply, travel, or social gatherings. These results emphasize the importance of integrating social and ecological data to inform adaptive management strategies that anticipate changes in hunting pressure during societal crises.