Hunting consolidates its position as the third sport with the most registered members in Spain

Far from being a niche activity, hunting is consolidating its position as one of the most widespread sporting practices in Spain. This is demonstrated by the new Study of the Economic, Social and Environmental Impact of Hunting in Spain , prepared by the prestigious consulting firm Deloitte for the Artemisan Foundation, which ranks hunting as the third most popular national sport in terms of the number of registered members, surpassed only by football and basketball.

With a total of 330,423 registered athletes, hunting surpasses other highly popular disciplines such as tennis, padel, golf, and mountain and climbing sports. This figure demonstrates the enormous social penetration of hunting in Spain, especially in rural areas, where it represents not only a sport but also a way of life, a tradition, and a connection to the natural environment.

A solid and active associative structure

The study highlights the key role of the 17 regional hunting federations and the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation, which together represent the largest group within the national hunting sector. This federative network is the backbone of a deeply rooted association movement that drives and structures the activity throughout the country.

As of December 31, 2023, there were also 891,889 valid regional hunting licenses and 17,624 inter-regional licenses, which reaffirms the real magnitude of the hunting community in Spain beyond the strictly federative sphere.

Another significant fact is the existence of 6,308 federated hunting societies or clubs, which, in many cases, act as the main social agents in their municipalities, organizing activities, training new hunters and collaborating with local authorities and entities for the conservation of the environment.

Andalusia leads the ranking of registered hunters

By autonomous community, Andalusia leads the hunting association movement with 87,737 registered members, followed by the Valencian Community (35,388 members) and Extremadura (33,516). These figures reinforce the leadership of the Andalusian Hunting Federation and its strategic role in promoting social and organized hunting throughout the country.

Dissemination: a key element in defending the sector

In addition to the sporting aspect, the study highlights the educational commitment of hunting federations. According to the data collected, more than 70% of the federations carry out educational activities, with an average of 10.8 events per year, attracting more than 1.5 million people annually and representing an average investment of €18,369 per federation each year.

These actions are fundamental to informing, educating and making the reality of hunting visible among society, and they translate into activities such as talks, educational workshops, open days, rural fairs and environmental awareness events.

The data presented by the Artemisan Foundation reflects an undeniable reality: hunting is one of the most popular sporting activities in Spain, with a solid social base and a growing network of associations. Its impact extends far beyond the sport itself, affecting the rural economy, biodiversity conservation, and the cultural identity of thousands of municipalities.

Hunting is not just a sport. It's part of the soul of the countryside.