On October 5, a group led by students from School of Regional Development Studies called "Kakuma Labo" held target shooting activity on wildlife damage at the 37th Okuradake Kogen Festival with the support and cooperation of Komatsu City and the Nishio Area United Neighborhood Association. The 120 people visited the booth and learned about wildlife damage and hunting.
The purpose of the “Wildlife Damage Target Shooting” activity was to provide an enjoyable way for participants to learn about the issue of wildlife damage affecting rural communities and the importance of responsible hunting practices. A key feature of the activity was the use of two types of targets: those that awarded points when hit (e.g., wild boars), and those that deducted points when hit (e.g., Japanese serows). This design aimed to convey that hunting is not a disorderly activity, but one that is conducted under strict regulations. The booth also featured informational posters about wildlife damage. Despite the rainy weather on the day of the event, the activity attracted 120 visitors of all ages, who enjoyed learning about wildlife damage and hunting in a fun and engaging way.
The students faced challenges in conveying their intentions—namely, to promote understanding of wildlife damage and hunting—within the festive atmosphere of the event. They also paid close attention to safety measures, including the designation of restricted areas, management of visitor flow, and the use of protective gear. The positive feedback received from visitors gave the students a strong sense of confidence and accomplishment.
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Booth setup in progress -
The "Wildlife Damage Target Shooting" booth -
Examples of targets drawn by students -
Children's challenge with a simple rubber gun
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