DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3qs
title: Data from: Behavioural responses of a gamebird to human encounters across the hunting season

description: We examined the behavioural adaptation of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in
 response to human encounters across the hunting season. We conducted
 disturbance experiments in two different parts of the species’ range, in
 subarctic (Iceland) and in alpine (Italy) habitats. A single pedestrian
 observer approached individuals and groups of rock ptarmigan to record
 flight initiation distance (FID) as a measure of disturbance
 susceptibility in hunted versus non-hunted populations. We hypothesized
 that FID would increase during the hunting season and subsequently
 decrease, returning to pre-hunting levels. The results demonstrated that
 in hunted sites, FID increased significantly during the hunting season,
 indicating heightened disturbance sensitivity, and subsequently returned
 to baseline values post-season. In areas where hunting was not permitted,
 FID remained relatively constant. The study demonstrates rapid behavioural
 shifts in response to hunting, emphasizing the impact of hunting on
 wildlife-human interactions. These findings contribute to the
 understanding of wildlife disturbance responses and offer insights into
 the balancing of hunting with recreation, suggesting that non-hunted areas
 may foster more tolerant wildlife, enhancing experiences for non-hunting
 recreationists.
description: # Data from: Behavioural responses of a gamebird to human encounters
 across the hunting season Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3qs](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3qs) ##
 Description of the data and file structure The datasets contain flight
 initiation distance (FID) measurements and related ecological and
 environmental variables collected during field studies in Iceland and
 Italy. A full description of the study design and variable definitions is
 provided in the accompanying manuscript. ### Files and variables ####
 File: dataset_Iceland.csv **Description:** Flight initiation distance
 (FID) measurements and related ecological and environmental variables
 collected in Iceland * ID: identification number * time: time of day *
 date: sampling date * site: 2 categories: hunted, not hunted * sex: 3
 categories: female(s), male(s), mixed * temperature: temperature in °C  *
 cover: 2 categories: yes / covered (at least 2/3 of rock ptarmigan
 obstructed from view from side and/or above), no / not covered (everything
 else) * 2 categories: yes / plumage equals ground cover, no / plumage does
 not equal ground cover #### File: dataset_Italy.csv
 **Description:** Flight initiation distance (FID) measurements and related
 ecological and environmental variables collected in Italy ##### Variables
 * ID: identification number * time: time of day * date: sampling date *
 site: 2 categories: hunted, not hunted * sex: 3 categories: female(s),
 male(s), mixed * temperature: temperature in °C  * cover: 2 categories:
 yes / covered (at least 2/3 of rock ptarmigan obstructed from view from
 side and/or above), no / not covered (everything else) * 2 categories: yes
 / plumage equals ground cover, no / plumage does not equal ground cover ##
 Code/software The datasets are provided in CSV format and can be viewed
 with any common spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice
 Calc, or other open-source alternatives. Note: semicolons used as a column
 delimiter and commas used as decimal delimiter