Bushmeat hunting plays an important role in rural West African society; however, hunting pressures are growing, threatening the survival of many bushmeat species. Wildlife resources are rapidly dwindling; yet effective conservation strategies have been difficult to develop and implement. Many dimensions of bushmeat resource use have not been sufficiently explored and are consequently ignored in conservation interventions, namely the cultural aspects of hunting. To improve understanding of hunting culture and practice, I conducted semi-structured interviews with hunters in three Malinke villages in Guinea, West Africa and conducted market observations in a nearby city's bushmeat market. Information regarding hunting practices and hunters attitudes and preferences demonstrate the important role hunting plays in Malinke hunter's lives and, more broadly, in their communities. These perspectives offer both opportunities and obstacles for conservation, which will be valuable for the development of conservation strategies in this area.; Keywords. bushmeat, hunting, Malinke, wildlife conservation, West Africa.
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