Expert Contributor:
Julia Nowak
Estimated read time: 6 min.
Nature conservationists and ethical hunters often find themselves under the unjust shadow of being viewed solely as harvesters or mere purveyors of death. But that is far from the truth. Licensed hunters, who adhere to strict regulations and act ethically, are an integral part of modern wildlife control. Contrarily, they are the ones who not only contribute significantly to wildlife welfare but also broaden their knowledge by spending their days observing the natural flow of wildlife from a distance.
Pulsar Ambassador Julia Nowak from Poland is a third-generation hunter, growing up surrounded by hunting language and the tracing of footprints. With an unwavering respect and love for nature, instilled by her father, she shares her firm insights into her passion and responsibility as a hunter, alongside the significant input of modern technology.
The hunter role and public criticism
Being active in conservation, Julia argues that hunters are the best advocates for wildlife. Spending countless hours outdoors – in rain or snow, darkness or dust – they gain the privilege to witnessing the natural rhythm of habitats, their hierarchy, social interactions, feeding habits, and mating behaviors. Such sustained attention inherently requires genuine caring for the species and their welfare.
“A combination of it all makes hunters the ones who know the status of populations of different species best at the local level. Such knowledge is a key to proper management. The more information we have, the better and more accurate decisions and actions we can make,” Julia says.
The critical data collection – such as the number of existing species, activity patterns, gender and age distribution, general health condition, and behaviors – functions as a scientific compass. This allows conservationists and hunters to make responsible, informed decisions that maintain a healthy ecological balance and ensure wildlife thrives.
When asked about the criticism hunters often receive, Julia believes it is often the consequence of a lack of knowledge. With limited understanding, people judge based on what they think they know, without realizing the crucial, missing part of the story. “I think that statistics, numbers, and facts will always defend themselves in the end,” she states. Then adds, “Once you understand how something works, it gets easier to understand how it affects everything around.”
Technology as an aid: Thermal optics for nocturnal monitoring
Living in the innovative technology era, it is almost impossible not to be affected by its progress. A variety of human work fields have been positively impacted by change, resulting in faster and more effective processes and outcomes. Naturally, the approach of hunting has also evolved. While retaining the fundamental principles of hunter skills and knowledge, technology opens up new avenues for more effective monitoring and ethical hunting. “Especially nowadays, when many species are nocturnal and others are becoming more nocturnal due to human and predator pressure,” Julia adds.
“We can observe animals in the middle of the night, when they are perhaps more inclined to go out into the open fields, which gives us a clear view of them. For us, it is easier to stay unseen. This allows us to observe natural behavior and interaction, we can analyze gender and age structures, we can assess the health condition of whole groups in general or specifically of an individual – some health issues are much easier to detect thanks to heat levels than by just looking at the animal with our own eyes.”
Thermal optics expand hunters’ sight in unfavorable conditions, allowing them to apply their skills with utmost confidence. Providing situational awareness, the thermal view also grants safety for both hunters and animals. “The wild boars, responsible for crop damage, often go out on the fields from late evening till early mornings, so the use of thermals makes the hunt more effective and safer,” explains Julia.
“I think that in general, once you start using thermal imaging, you get to realize how much wildlife you are surrounded by. You are able to see things that you wouldn’t be able to notice without thermals. It’s basically like opening a book that never ends because so many topics keep appearing.”
I think that in general, once you start using thermal imaging, you get to realize how much wildlife you are surrounded by. You are able to see things that you wouldn’t be able to notice without thermals. It’s basically like opening a book that never ends because so many topics keep appearing.
Julia Nowak
Data and dedication: Measuring conservation success
Like any effective tool in human hands, thermal technology must be used responsibly. Julia suggests a clever allegory for that: “You can spread butter on a sandwich with a knife… but you can also kill somebody with it. So it is very important to distinguish between ethical hunting and true hunters and those who could try to use some tools for illegal actions.” At the end of the day, every action and its outcome rest on our morals and values.
Deeply engaged in conservation and constantly seeking new perspectives to increase effectiveness, Julia developed a way to measure the advantage of thermal optics herself. “During my master’s studies at the university and being a Pulsar ambassador at the same time, I decided to use the advantage of having access to top-quality thermals. As a base idea for my master’s thesis subject, I tested a standard version of a method for population density estimation, conducted during the daytime and equipped with standard day optics. Then I tried the same method, but I have ‘upgraded’ it by changing daytime into nighttime and day optics into thermals. It is a long subject to discuss in detail, but the general conclusion was that night observations with thermal vision proved to be more effective and gave a more real-life estimation of the local populations.”
You can spread butter on a sandwich with a knife… but you can also kill somebody with it. So it is very important to distinguish between ethical hunting and true hunters and those who could try to use some tools for illegal actions.
Julia Nowak
In conclusion, the role of the ethical hunter extends far beyond the trigger. Through consistent, close observation, hunters become the most reliable source of local wildlife data essential for proper population management. Tools like thermal optics amplify this scientific contribution, solidifying the hunter’s position as an indispensable partner in ensuring the welfare and sustained health of wild populations.