What does the Scottish Hunting Bill mean for shooting?

[Conor O'Gorman]

Last night, Tuesday 24 January, in the Scottish Parliament, the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill was passed by 90 votes to 30. It repeals and replaces the Protection of Wild Mammals Act, which was passed in 2002.

In essence, the Bill restricts those “hunting” mammals in Scotland to use no more than two dogs to do so.

It establishes a new licensing scheme to allow the use of more than two dogs in certain limited circumstances. This is to provide farmers, gamekeepers and land managers access to appropriate and humane control measures, where necessary. This would include using dogs to flush foxes from woodland or scrub to be shot.

BASC opposed the Bill from the outset. We also extensively lobbied MSPs, Government Ministers and Scottish Government officials in order to ensure clarity around unintended consequences for rough shooting.

The Environment and Land Reform Minister has said that she “would be content to work with the shooting industry on post-legislative guidance in order to try to manage down the risk of vexatious claims.”

BASC has been requested by the Scottish Government to shape guidance on licensing and the Bill’s implications on rough shooting.

Click link below for more information and FAQs

What does the Hunting with Dogs Bill mean for shooting? - The British Association for Shooting and Conservation

Following the passing of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, read how the new legislation will affect shooting in Scotland.

basc.org.uk

 

[Rake Aboot]

Yup
As I said, for a bill not affecting driven birds there’s a lot of mention of beating lines.

Just watch how this is used again rough shoots by activists .

As for making sure your dogs don’t join up with other dogs down a line ? Wtaf.

Total arsehat as per usual from krankies numpties

 

[sauer]

common sense completely out the window

once again rules driven by sentiment and those with no clue how something works

death by a thousand cuts



Paul

 

[lochty]

Common sense doesn't exist in holyrood. We're f***ed....

 

[Greenmist]

I will quote the great sage, Billy Joe Armstrong, "One nation controlled by the media"

 

[Heym SR20]

Think of all the time wasted on this bill and on all other bits of SNP idiocy.

When instead they should be focusing on key things that are within their responsibility.

SNP and the Conservative party are nothing that petty nationalists focusing on a very limited agenda. The sooner we are rid of both the better IMHO.

 

[User00040]

SNP and the Conservative party are nothing that petty nationalists focusing on a very limited agenda. The sooner we are rid of both the better IMHO.

And replace them with?

Truth is that Scotland is on it's way to becoming a failed state and independence will be the final nail in the coffin.

Corruption

Abuse of plentiful natural resources

Local people being cleared off land

Hemorrhaging public money

Prospects for the situation improving: Nil

 

[Rake Aboot]

You forgot to add taxing the utter shite out of us.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Heres another one.

Two guys are out ferreting, with two lurchers and a terrier. Bingo, malicious prosecution awaits. Cause rabbits are now included.

On that note, they included rabbits, so the writing is on the wall for working lurchers at all, now that they have negated the differential between hares and rabbits for the hunting with dogs act.


I'm retired now, the second I stop shooting I'll be going back to full time poaching and night time mooching haha.

 

[Heym SR20]

And replace them with?

Truth is that Scotland is on it's way to becoming a failed state and independence will be the final nail in the coffin.

Corruption

Abuse of plentiful natural resources

Local people being cleared off land

Hemorrhaging public money

Prospects for the situation improving: Nil

That’s the problem. But I think a new fresh government will bring a fresh set of ideas. Any government that has been in power for more than 10 years goes stale and looses its moral compass.

 

[Boosh]

Is shooting all it effect's in BASC's eye's Connor?

 

[NoIDeer]

Whilst this POS will only affect directly a small percentage of shooters it will affect us all.

This is an open invitation for antis and their so call hunt monitors to involve themselves in all aspects of shooting. Prepare for a sh1tstorm.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Is shooting all it effect's in BASC's eye's Connor?

I think in BASC's eyes it wont affect shooting at all. Sounds blinkered to me.

 

[foxhunter]

Yep rabbits were added to close any loopholes.

 

[T.eddie]

is there any org that represents specifically the dogmen?

 

[Rake Aboot]

No

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I think in BASC's eyes it wont affect shooting at all. Sounds blinkered to me.

I've left them this morning, I shall sleep soundly knowing that £90 or whatever it is now won't be funding some ballbag that doesn't give a toss

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Is shooting all it effect's in BASC's eye's Connor?

BASC's focus in its lobbying and latest advice and FAQs was people that shoot.

Here is an update from SGA that comments on foot packs:

Statement: Licensing necessary in Hunting with Dogs Bill

SGA welcomes licensing in the new Bill but challenges regulators to deliver workable scheme

www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk

Here is an update from SLE that comments on shooting and hunting

A cautious welcome to the Hunting with Dogs Bill | Scottish Land & Estates

Scottish Land & Estates has given a cautious welcome to the

www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk

 

[Heym SR20]

Fundamentally it is members of parliament - either in Westminster or Holyrood that propose bills, then debate them and then via a vote, vote them into legislation.

Any of us have the right and ability to put our views to our members of parliament, to public consultations that call for evidence and to support lobby groups, that over time develop working relationships (being polite, I suspect in many cases they are somewhat fraut) with parliamentarians to get their views across.

MPs and MSPs have a duty of care to consider all the evidence presented to them and to then make their own decision as to how to vote. In many cases they may be whipped to follow party lines, but it is their own decision as to whether or not they do. In many cases decisions will be on the basis of a compromise, with give and take a bit here and there.

Fundamentally though, we as individuals and as members of the shooting community and shooting associations can only lobby and provide evidence to parliament. The fact that parliament often will take a view that is contra to one side or other is a simple fact of living in a parliamentary system.

In the case of this hunting with dogs bill, I do see it as an unnecessary piece of legislation. That is my view, and probably that of many others. However I would like to thank all those who have been involved on my behalf lobbying the Scottish Government to ensure that this legislation has a minimal impact of law abiding shooting and hunting activities, and please continue to do so to ensure that any schemes that come into force are workable.

In the meantime we all in the shooting community need to bring all those on board with what we do. When did somebody last invite their MP or MSP or take them out deer stalking.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Your kidding ?
They wouldn’t be seen dead out shooting
I’m not sure people understand how much the general population dislike killing animals outside slaughterhouses.
Shooting animals with a gun is sick in most folk’s mind.