Hokkaido implements specialized hunter roles to manage brown bear presence

In Hokkaido, Japan, authorities and hunters are employing diverse strategies to manage the increasing presence of brown bears. In Hokuto City, the municipality has implemented a ‘government hunter’ system to bridge the gap between administrative duties and field response. Hiroshi Yoshida, a local resident hired in June 2026, serves a dual role: performing field patrols and responding to sightings, while also handling administrative tasks such as filing trap installation reports and attending municipal meetings.

This integrated approach has reportedly reduced response times for bear-related incidents by one to two hours. Local officials note that having a dedicated hunter on staff provides more continuity than rotating municipal personnel, allowing for faster initial responses to sightings and the installation of warning signs.

In other parts of eastern Hokkaido, traditional hunting methods like ‘maki-gari’—a group hunting technique where participants surround and drive prey toward waiting shooters—remain a critical component of managing large, dangerous bears. These operations require highly skilled individuals to track animals through dense terrain and navigate the risks of ‘tome-ashi,’ where bears attempt to deceive trackers by masking their footprints.