1Offence of hunting a wild mammal using a dogS
(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person hunts a wild mammal using a dog, and
(b)none of the exceptions in sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 apply.
(2)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding £40,000 (or both),
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both).
(3)In this Act—
“hunting” includes, in particular, searching for and coursing (and related expressions are to be construed accordingly),
“wild mammal” means any mammal (other than a human)—
(a)which—
(i)is living in a wild state,
(ii)is of a species recognised as living in a wild state in the British Islands (as defined in schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978), or
(iii)has been deliberately released from temporary or permanent human control, and
(b)which is not—
(i)a rat,
(ii)a mouse, or
(iii)living under temporary or permanent human control.
(4)In this Part, a person is “using a dog” when the hunting of a wild mammal by that person involves the use of a dog, even if the dog is not under that person’s control or direction (and related expressions are to be construed accordingly).
Commencement Information
I1S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 31(2)
I2S. 1 in force at 3.10.2023 by S.S.I. 2023/262, reg. 2