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 garden, benefitted from the additional food resources available and the hunters, due to the garden, 

 benefitted from the additional game available. 



The current study was designed specifically to test the relationships comprising garden hunting. 

 More generally, it was designed to compile information about a highly acculturated group of indigenous 

 people practicing subsistence hunting. The results of this and subsequent chapters will be useful in 

 evaluating the specific model of garden hunting. These results also will be useful in developing 

 alternative resource management strategies as the Maya contemplate a shift in subsistence activities 

 from hunting and horticulture to logging, cattle ranching and commercial fruit production. 



There were three general objectives for this chapter and several specific hypotheses: 



First objective.— Describe the composition and characteristics of the game harvested by Maya 

 hunters at X-Hazil Sur. Several hypotheses were tested: One, the proportion of male game animals 

 taken was equal to the proportion of females taken, per species. Two, the monthly take of mammals 

 and birds was equal among months. Three, the hourly take of mammals and birds was equal among 

 hours. Four, the distfibution of take of mammals and birds was equal, among specific time intervals. 



Second objective. --Describe the characteristics of the hunters and their weapons. Several 

 hypotheses were tested: One, the age class distribution of hunters was equal to the age class distribution 

 of the general population of males at X-Hazil Sur. Two, the yield of game per outing and hunter-hour 

 was equal between different-sized groups. Three, the mean prey item weight was equal between 

 different types of weapons and by hunter for the seven main hunters, based on the total number of prey 

 taken. 



Third objective.— Describe the characteristics of the hunt. Several hypotheses were tested: 

 One, the yield of game per outing and per hunter-hour was equal for different types of hunts. Two, 

 the distribution of kill sites in different vegetation types was equal to the proportion of these types in 

 the study area. Three, the mean kill site distance was equal, by game species and by hunter for the 

 seven main hunters. 



