New website
A few days before the 2026 edition of the Caccia Village in Bastia Umbra, where it will be present, Stephen Castellani inaugurated its own official web siteAn online space where you can also engage in serious and in-depth reflections on hunting. The Roman hunter, among the most active on social media (his profile has well over 34 followers), has published on this very site the first of what one can imagine will be a long series of insights on hunting.
Hunting and sports
For his “debut” post, Castellani tried to explain why hunting cannot be considered a sport in any way: “How many times have we heard that hunters practice a sport that has no reason to exist? How many times have we heard "if you want to shoot, go clay pigeon shooting"? Well, let's say it once and for all: hunting is NOT a sport, and honestly, I struggle to even consider it a hobby. So what is hunting, and what is its place in contemporary society? From my point of view, hunting is not a sport, but it has a very broad and profound meaning, and it would be ignorant to reduce it to a simple "kill" and/or pastime.".
No competition
The post continues: “Hunting is culture, tradition, it's deeply understanding and respecting the environment, it's protecting biodiversity, it's appreciating what nature has to offer us, it's sharing. Therefore, little or none of this has anything to do with sport. Hunting is not about competition, there's no record to break, and you don't have a final ranking to see your position. Hunting is a controlled activity, governed by strict rules. There are times and methods to follow, there are huntable species and non-huntable species, there are "numbers" to meet, all of which are indicated in regional hunting calendars and established according to the national law regulating hunting. Perhaps (and I say perhaps), the only thing that hunting has in common with sport is the excellent health that the hunter must possess in order to be considered fit to hunt.".
Clean people
The reflection then relies on a very clear distinction: "It's clear that being a hunter doesn't require the athletic preparation of a sprinter, but you must be in excellent health and, above all, have a clean criminal record. If you see a hunter in the woods, regardless of your beliefs about hunting, you should know you're dealing with a clean individual. How many other people could you say the same about? When were hunting and sport extremely close? To be honest, in my opinion, there was a time when "hunting and sport" were extremely close, when killing the most meant being the best of all. I'm referring to what was once called "pigeon shooting," a practice where live pigeons were released and had to be shot within a certain distance for the kill to be considered valid for competition purposes. I find it inappropriate to explain the rules of this sport here. What's important to consider is that it was definitively banned in Italy because it was deemed "illegal" (the pigeon has now been replaced by a propeller, an object that simulates the flight of an animal). In conclusion: hunting is not a sport. Perhaps hunting and sport went hand in hand for a while until, RIGHTLY, it was decided that they should go their separate ways.".
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Interesting publication and information and reflections on "HUNTING AND SPORT" sent that I share at a time when SOCIAL hunting IS BEING REPLACED BY HUNTING ONLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT ECONOMICALLY, leaving aside the aspect of biodiversity
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Hunting is an instinct like many others, unique to man. It is not a sport as the FIDC wanted in alliance with the CONI.