Carranza, J. 2009. Gestión del ciervo en el monte mediterráneo. En: Gestión Cinegética en los Ecosistemas Mediterráneos. Sáenz de Buruaga, M. & Carranza, J. (Eds.). Publ. Junta de Andalucía.
Hunting of ungulates has recently become more popular and more in demand, partly because of their expanded distribution areas and abundance, and also because of an increasing scarcity of smaller game species more generally. Under these circumstances, ungulates have increased their commercial value, and land use directed primarily towards production of produce game ungulates has increasingly become a feasible economic alternative to agriculture or livestock in many areas, especially in Southwestern Spain.
The actual status of ungulate populations mostly depends on the management practices , together with the type of hunting procedures. There are some differences in management practice between northern and southern areas in Spain. Northern areas are characterized by the increase of wild boar and roe deer populations, with the associated problem of damages in agricultural lands and increased road accidents. Wild boar and roe deer are the main big game species in these areas.
Management of ungulate populations is mostly oriented to hunting, with the exceptions of protected areas where the main objective may be population regulation. In National Parks hunting is prohibited by the current national law. There is an ongoing process of transference of National Parks to regional governments and the possibility of allowing some hunting within these parks is under consideration.