Hunting with Dogs Bill
As Introduced
CONTENTS
Hunting with dogs
1. Hunting with dogs
Offences
2. Hunting wild mammals using dogs
3. Trail hunting
4. Terrier work
5. Penalties
Exempt hunting
6. Rats and mice
7. Management of wild mammals above ground
8. Relieving the suffering of injured wild mammals
9. Searching for dead wild mammals
10. Training dogs to follow an animal-based scent
Final provisions
11. Enforcement
12. Review
13. Commencement
14. Short title
A
BILL
TO
Prohibit hunting wild mammals with dogs; to prohibit trail hunting; to prohibit terrier work; and to set out exemptions from these prohibitions.
BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His Majesty as follows:
Hunting with dogs
Hunting with dogs
1. After Article 23 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 insert—
“PART 3A
HUNTING WITH DOGS
Interpretation of this Part
23A.—(1) For the purposes of this Part a person participates in—
(a) hunting a wild mammal using one or more dogs,
(b) trail hunting,
(c) terrier work, whether or not the person is responsible for controlling any dog used.
(2) In paragraph (1), the reference to participation includes a reference to participation in another activity (such as pursuit by a dog of an artificial or human scent) in the course of which a dog hunts a wild mammal.
(3) In this Part a reference to a wild mammal includes in particular—
(a) a wild mammal that has been bred or tamed for any purpose,
(b) a wild mammal that is or has been in captivity or confinement,
(c) a wild mammal that has escaped or been released from captivity or confinement, and
(d) any mammal that is living wild.”
Offences
Hunting wild mammals using dogs
2. After Article 23A of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 1) insert—
“Offences
Hunting wild mammals using dogs
23B.—(1) It is an offence to—
(a) hunt a wild mammal using one or more dogs, or
(b) organise or participate in the hunting of a wild mammal using one or more dogs.
(2) It is an offence for the owner or occupier of land to knowingly cause or permit another person to hunt a wild mammal using one or more dogs on that land.
(3) But this does not apply in respect of exempt hunting (see Articles 23E to 23H).
(4) In this Part “hunting a wild mammal” includes searching for and pursuing.”
Trail hunting
3. After Article 23B of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 2) insert—
“Trail hunting
23C.—(1) It is an offence to organise or participate in a trail hunt.
(2) But this does not apply in respect of exempt hunting (see Article 23I).
(3) In this Part—
“animal-based scent” means—
(a) a scent that is derived from a wild mammal, or
(b) a scent that mimics, replicates or resembles the scent of a wild mammal (or which is designed to do so), whether or not that scent is derived wholly or in part from artificial ingredients,
“trail hunt” means inducing or permitting one or more dogs to follow an animal-based scent (whether the trail of scent has been laid naturally or by human intervention).”
Terrier work
4. After Article 23C of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 3) insert—
“Terrier work
23D.—(1) It is an offence to organise or participate in terrier work.
(2) In this Part “terrier work” means inducing one or more dogs to enter a hole in the ground, or an enclosed space, in order to—
(a) flush out or otherwise force a wild mammal to leave the hole or enclosed space, or
(b) make it easier or quicker to dig a wild mammal out of the hole or enclosed space.”
Penalties
5. In Article 27 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (penalties and forfeitures) after paragraph (2) insert—
“(2A) A person guilty of an offence under Article 23B, 23C or 23D is liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding £20,000, or both, and
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both.”
Exempt hunting
Rats and mice
6. After Article 23D of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 4) insert—
“Exempt hunting
Rats and mice
23E. Article 23B does not apply in respect of the hunting of rats or mice.”
Management of wild mammals above ground
7. After Article 23E of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 6) insert—
“Management of wild mammals above ground
23F.—(1) Article 23B does not apply if—
(a) the person hunting a wild mammal is using a dog above ground to—
(i) search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal, with the intention of killing it for one or more of the purposes set out in paragraph (2),
(ii) search for and retrieve a wild mammal which has been killed as a result of the activity mentioned head (i), and
(b) the conditions set out in paragraph (3) are met.
(2) Those purposes are—
(a) preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or pasture,
(b) preventing the spread of disease,
(c) preserving human health,
(d) preventing serious damage to the biological diversity of an area.
(3) Those conditions are that—
(a) the activity does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) permission has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(e) the wild mammal that is being searched for, stalked or flushed is shot dead as soon as reasonably possible,
(f) if the attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in sub-paragraph (e), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.”
Relieving the suffering of injured wild mammals
8. After Article 23F of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 7) insert—
“Relieving the suffering of injured wild mammals
23G.—(1) Article 23B does not apply if—
(a) the person hunting a wild mammal is using a dog above ground to search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal which the person has reasonable grounds for believing is injured, with the intention of treating, capturing or killing it for the purpose of relieving its suffering,
(b) the wild mammal was not deliberately injured for the purpose of allowing the activity mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) to take place, and
(c) the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met.
(2) Those conditions are that—
(a) the activity mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) either—
(i) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(ii) the person carrying out the activity is a constable exercising a power of entry, or
(iii) the person carrying out the activity is a wildlife inspector exercising a power of entry under Article 25B,
(e) the wild mammal which is being searched for, stalked or flushed is, as soon as reasonably possible, either—
(i) given treatment to reduce or alleviate its pain or discomfort before being allowed to escape without being pursued or killed,
(ii) captured for the purpose of being given treatment to reduce or alleviate its pain or discomfort (whether at that place or at another place),
(iii) shot dead, or
(iv) observed and allowed to escape without being pursued or killed,
(f) if an attempt to kill the wild mammal, as mentioned in sub-paragraph (e)(iii), results in it being injured but not killed, reasonable steps are taken to kill it in a way (other than by using a dog) that causes it the minimum possible suffering.”
Searching for dead wild mammals
9. After Article 23G of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 8) insert—
“Searching for dead wild mammals
23H.—(1) Article 23B does not apply if—
(a) the person hunting a wild mammal is using a dog above ground to search for and retrieve a dead wild mammal, and
(b) the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met.
(2) Those conditions are that—
(a) the activity mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) does not involve the use of more than two dogs,
(b) any dog used is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog used does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) either—
(i) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(ii) the person carrying out the activity is a constable exercising a power of entry, or
(iii) the person carrying out the activity is a wildlife inspector exercising a power of entry under Article 25B,
(e) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that no wild mammal is pursued, injured or killed.”
Training dogs to follow an animal-based scent
10. After Article 23H of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as inserted by section 9) insert—
“Training dogs to follow an animal-based scent
23I.—(1) Article 23C does not apply if—
(a) the person trail hunting—
(i) directs a dog to find and follow an animal-based scent which has been laid for that purpose, or
(ii) lays an animal-based scent for a dog to find and follow, in order to train a dog for a lawful purpose, and
(b) the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met.
(2) Those conditions are that—
(a) the activity mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) does not involve more than two dogs,
(b) any dog involved in the activity is under control,
(c) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that any dog involved in the activity does not join with others to form a pack of more than two dogs,
(d) permission for the activity has been given by the owner of the land on which the activity takes place,
(e) reasonable steps are taken to ensure that no wild mammal is pursued, injured or killed.”
Final provisions
Enforcement
11.—(1) The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 is further amended as follows.
(2) In Article 25 (enforcement: constables) in paragraph (1), (2), (3)(a), and (10)(a) for “an offence under Part 2 or 3” substitute “an offence under Part 2, 3 or 3A”.
(3) In Article 25B (power of wildlife inspector to enter premises), in paragraph (1), in the definition of relevant offence, for “or 15A” substitute “15A, 23B, 23C or 23D”.
(4) In Article 27A(1) (application to the Crown) for “Parts 2 and 3” substitute “Parts 2, 3 and 3A”.
Review
12. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs must review, and publish a report about, the operation of the provisions of this Act from time to time, and not less than once in each period of 5 years.
Commencement
13. This Act comes into operation at the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
14. This Act may be cited as the Hunting with Dogs Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.
