User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Hunter Theory... Blog/@comment-7584137-20130926200505/@comment-4009941-20130926205128

This has been discussed and the answer is because the guild keeps strict tabs on monster populations and has limited hunting areas. And the unlimited hunting of monsters is mostly game mechanic.

For example when a new hunting area is released it is said "The hunting ban has been lifted" and it is also said that poaching or some species is punishable by death.

For example lets say the Misty Peaks. The Misty Peaks are not newly discovered and before the story of MHP3rd the place was banned from hunting but recently due to a overpopulated invasion of Zinogre the bann has been lifted.

Also as far as guild, real Guild Knight and Secret Hunters do work such as: Keeping tabs on monster numbers, Watching for poachers, Exploring new lands, Assasination  of poachers and such by guns like you seen on Guild Kkight tassets and Deciding if a area should be banned from hunting or have a ban removed.

With all these rules that means there are plenty of monsters in MH that don't show up in game and alot of areas.

Anyway end of point outside of Game Mechanics in MH Poaching = Punishment. Simple as that.