Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill (Detailed)

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

We are seeking your views on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

You can either:

complete a short survey on the Bill
share your detailed views, by following the submission link below, on specific provisions of the Bill

What does the legislation do?

It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.

This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It will still be an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. For example, hunting with dogs may be allowed to prevent the spread of disease or to protect other animals if the activity meets the requirements in the Bill about how it is done. However, it will always be illegal to chase and kill a wild mammal using a dog.

Where hunting is allowed, the Bill introduces new limits on the number of dogs that can be used. In some circumstances, people may be able to get a licence to use more dogs. The Bill also sets out other conditions which must be met in order to hunt a wild mammal.

The Bill also bans trail hunting except in limited circumstances. Trail hunting is when a dog is used to find and follow an animal-based scent.

The Committee will not, as part of its scrutiny, address or explore issues which are outwith the scope of the Bill as outlined above. Submissions which contain offensive language, do not comply with GDPR requirements or are not relevant to the Committee’s scrutiny will not be published.

Share your views

Detailed consultation

Read the questions you will be asked to comment on in the detailed consultation

Do you agree the bill would make the offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog in Scotland easier to understand and to enforce than under the 2002 Act?
Do you agree with the definition of a wild mammal set out in the bill?
Do you agree the bill would make the offence for a land owner/occupier or dog owner/person who is responsible for a dog to knowingly cause or permit another person to hunt a wild mammal using a dog easier to understand and to enforce than under the 2002 Act?
Do you agree with the exception for the management of wild mammals above ground for the specified purposes and if the conditions are met?
If you do not agree with the exception for the management of wild mammals above ground for the specified purposes and if the conditions are met, please explain your reasons.
Do you agree with the specified purposes set out in section 3(2) for which the exception for the management of wild mammals above ground would apply?
Do you agree with the conditions set out in section 3(3), including the proposed limit for up to two dogs, which would apply for the exception for the management of wild mammals above ground?
Do you agree with the proposed licensing regime?
Do you agree with the exception for the management of foxes and mink below ground for the specified purposes and if the conditions are met?
If you do not agree with the exception for the management of foxes and mink below ground for the specified purposes and if the conditions are met, please explain your reasons.
Do you agree with the specified purposes set out in section 3(2) for which the exception for the management of foxes and mink below ground would apply?
Do you agree with the conditions set out in section 5(2), including the proposed limit for one dog, which would apply for the exception for the management of foxes and mink below ground?
Do you agree with the exception for falconry, game shooting and deer stalking if the conditions are met?
Do you agree with the conditions set out in section 6(2), including the proposed limit for up to two dogs, which would apply for the exception for falconry, game shooting and deer stalking?
Do you agree with the exception for environmental benefit?
If you do not agree with the exception for environmental benefit, please explain your reasons.
Do you agree with the specified purposes set out in section 7(2) which would apply to the exception for environmental benefit?
Do you agree with the conditions set out in section 7(3) which would apply to the exception for environmental benefit, including the proposed limit for one dog?
Do you agree with the proposed licensing regime?
Do you agree the bill sufficiently addresses the inconsistencies and ambiguities in the 2002 Act and should, therefore, make the law easier to understand and to enforce?
Do you think the bill should introduce vicarious liability?
. Do you think the bill should reverse the burden of proof?
Do you agree with the proposed ban on trail hunting?
Do you agree with the exception to the ban on trail hunting?
Do you agree with the conditions set out in section 12(2) which would apply for the exception to the ban on trail hunting, including the proposed limit for up to two dogs?
Do you agree with the provisions contained in Part 3 of the bill?
Do you have any other comments to make in relation to the bill?
Do you support this Bill?

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