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.