Huntergirl
I would be cautious about using UK laws as an example, UK laws, and especially hunting/animal welfare/firearms laws are not developed using considered views, analysis and integration with other laws. Instead they tend to be event driven (such as a “do something” following an horrific shooting) or brought about after a campaign by some special interest group, as a result there is usually a bias towards whatever the group objectives happened to be.
The laws also tend to be influenced by old practices, for example it is illegal to shoot gamebirds on a Sunday – actually because this was the only day off for the working classes, and by doing so would retain this type of shooting for the “independently wealthy”! – keep the riffraff out!
However, they are there, so as it stands today In the whole of the UK (including Scotland) – it is illegal to stalk deer at night (that is 1 hour after sunset, up to 1 hour before sunrise) – if we take stalking to be the pursuit of deer by an individual as a sporting activity (might involve a full or ½ day trek with all the enjoyable features etc) rather than a job.
I take it, that when you say hunting you mean Stalking, as in the UK, Deer hunting is traditionally undertaken using hounds [dogs] and is now illegal.
However there are circumstances where deer can be killed at night (and outside of any season, or other legal restraints), however these aren’t Stalking situations, so will not be allowed for anyone wishing just to enjoy the sport of stalking. They are:
Of course an individual may be a stalker, on police call out for wounded deer, and on the “Fit and Competent register” (Which you need to be to control deer under 18(2)).
So in the sense you are looking at hunting (as UK Stalking) as a pastime type activity, then stalking at night is illegal (actually over the whole of the UK – as it is in Sweden etc.) with no exceptions.
In Scotland however, the control of deer at night is allowed only by authorised controllers, approved by SNH, in specific circumstances (which includes/expects that there will be a coordinated team of controllers using vehicles, lamps and rifle).
(Similar in the rest of the UK, but slightly different laws and controlling bodies)
I know it appears pedantic, but SNH and the Scottish government make a clear distinction between Stalking as a sporting activity, and a “professional” control situation such as in 18(1) and 18(2) – any hint that the individual is using these approvals to increase their sporting stalking opportunities and it will be withdrawn.
Sorry long post but I didn’t have time to write a short one
Julie
I would be cautious about using UK laws as an example, UK laws, and especially hunting/animal welfare/firearms laws are not developed using considered views, analysis and integration with other laws. Instead they tend to be event driven (such as a “do something” following an horrific shooting) or brought about after a campaign by some special interest group, as a result there is usually a bias towards whatever the group objectives happened to be.
The laws also tend to be influenced by old practices, for example it is illegal to shoot gamebirds on a Sunday – actually because this was the only day off for the working classes, and by doing so would retain this type of shooting for the “independently wealthy”! – keep the riffraff out!
However, they are there, so as it stands today In the whole of the UK (including Scotland) – it is illegal to stalk deer at night (that is 1 hour after sunset, up to 1 hour before sunrise) – if we take stalking to be the pursuit of deer by an individual as a sporting activity (might involve a full or ½ day trek with all the enjoyable features etc) rather than a job.
I take it, that when you say hunting you mean Stalking, as in the UK, Deer hunting is traditionally undertaken using hounds [dogs] and is now illegal.
However there are circumstances where deer can be killed at night (and outside of any season, or other legal restraints), however these aren’t Stalking situations, so will not be allowed for anyone wishing just to enjoy the sport of stalking. They are:
- To alleviate suffering (for example kill the deer following a road traffic collision) – One wouldn’t stalk up to this; in general it would come from a police call out.
- The taking or killing is necessary to prevent serious damage to crops, pasture, human or animal foodstuffs, or to woodland.
- The taking or killing is necessary (Public safety) - Clause 5(6)
- Scientific research - Clause 5(7)
Of course an individual may be a stalker, on police call out for wounded deer, and on the “Fit and Competent register” (Which you need to be to control deer under 18(2)).
So in the sense you are looking at hunting (as UK Stalking) as a pastime type activity, then stalking at night is illegal (actually over the whole of the UK – as it is in Sweden etc.) with no exceptions.
In Scotland however, the control of deer at night is allowed only by authorised controllers, approved by SNH, in specific circumstances (which includes/expects that there will be a coordinated team of controllers using vehicles, lamps and rifle).
(Similar in the rest of the UK, but slightly different laws and controlling bodies)
I know it appears pedantic, but SNH and the Scottish government make a clear distinction between Stalking as a sporting activity, and a “professional” control situation such as in 18(1) and 18(2) – any hint that the individual is using these approvals to increase their sporting stalking opportunities and it will be withdrawn.
Sorry long post but I didn’t have time to write a short one
Julie
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