Part 1Offences
1Hunting wild mammals with dogs
A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog, unless his hunting is exempt.
2Exempt hunting
1
Hunting is exempt if it is within a class specified in Schedule 1.
2
The Secretary of State may by order amend Schedule 1 so as to vary a class of exempt hunting.
3Hunting: assistance
1
A person commits an offence if he knowingly permits land which belongs to him to be entered or used in the course of the commission of an offence under section 1.
2
A person commits an offence if he knowingly permits a dog which belongs to him to be used in the course of the commission of an offence under section 1.
4Hunting: defence
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 1 in respect of hunting to show that he reasonably believed that the hunting was exempt.
5Hare coursing
1
A person commits an offence if he—
a
participates in a hare coursing event,
b
attends a hare coursing event,
c
knowingly facilitates a hare coursing event, or
d
permits land which belongs to him to be used for the purposes of a hare coursing event.
2
Each of the following persons commits an offence if a dog participates in a hare coursing event—
a
any person who enters the dog for the event,
b
any person who permits the dog to be entered, and
c
any person who controls or handles the dog in the course of or for the purposes of the event.
3
A “hare coursing event” is a competition in which dogs are, by the use of live hares, assessed as to skill in hunting hares.