Abstract
The article commemorates a neglected anniversary in the history of environmental protection in Czechia - 50 years since the prohibition of hunting birds of prey with an eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) in 1967. Hunting birds with an eagle-owl as bait (called výrovka in Czech) took advantage of the natural hostility of daytime birds towards owls.
In Czechia, it was a traditional method of eliminating birds that were considered pests to hunting (e.g. crows and magpies, but also birds of prey). Even after adoption of laws on protection of rare species of birds of prey (e.g. eagles or falcons), indiscriminate (and illegal) shooting of any birds of prey whilst hunting with eagle-owls almost resulted in extermination of several rare species in the 1950s.
The article provides an overview on the topic from an environmental as well as legal point of view. Historical development of výrovka as a hunting method as well as evolution of protection of birds of prey in Czechia is examined.
Particular attention is paid to the differentiation of opinions within the hunters' community in the late 1950s, where rising concerns for environmental protection and opposing traditional approach of hunters calling for elimination of any pest to hunting stood against each other in a discussion whether hunting with eagle-owls was used reasonably, sustainably and in accordance with law. One such recorded exchange of opinions between hunters organised in the Czechoslovak Hunters' Union that took place on the pages of the Myslivost (Hunting in Czech), an official journal of the Union, between 1958 and 1960, is examined in detail.
Further, environmental and legal aspects of killing of birds of prey using výrovka are discussed. Finally yet importantly, development following the prohibition of výrovka is discussed, along with an overview of contemporary legal protection of birds of prey and the threats they face today.