Hunting deer for fun is an offence
THE Hunting Act 2004 reads: "A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog, unless his hunting is exempt."
The Act is too long to quote the full text in a letter to the Echo: it is 12 pages (A4) of single line spacing including a four-page schedule explaining the meaning of exempt hunting.
Giles Bradshaw is well aware hunting a wild mammal with a dog for sport is not one of the exemptions. It follows, therefore, that to hunt deer for fun is an offence (Letters November 4: Complete confusion over hunting law).
Mr Bradshaw says he feels no compunction at continuing to set his three dogs after wild deer on his land. But the Act makes it clear that to qualify for exempt hunting the number of dogs used for stalking or flushing out must not exceed two.
Why is it necessary, or permissible, for a horde of horsemen to canter around the countryside with a pack hounds when hunting with dogs has been banned?
Packs of hounds should no longer be allowed on highways as their immunity from prosecution was, in my opinion, extinguished when the 2004 Act was placed on the statute book.
Readers of the Echo wishing to have further information about the Hunting Act 2004 may view video footage on the website of Protect Our Wild Animals (www.powa.org.uk).
I do hope Mr Bradshaw will take a look at this website as it may assist him with his deer problems.
John Phelps
Argyll Road, Exeter
9 Comments
by penn71, exeter
Sunday, November 14 2010, 7:39PM
“Anyway, if hunting with dogs is illegal they cannot, in theory, exist under the law without breaking it in the first place and therefore, in reality you cannot use the public highway as you don't exist.
The minute of course that you do exist means that you are breaking the law - comprehend?”
by penn71, exeter
Sunday, November 14 2010, 7:22PM
“If you do not believe me, let me have your address and I will leave a lorry outside blocking the road.”
by penn71, exeter
Sunday, November 14 2010, 7:19PM
“However, if I stop and block the public highway with my car, then this is an offence.
So as long as you do not stop and keep moving (which you don't, partucularly at the start) you are also commiting an offence.”
by giles bradshaw, Rose Ash
Saturday, November 13 2010, 4:08PM
“They aren't obstructing the highway, they are using it lawfully. Hunts are allowed on the road and they are allowed to have their dogs on the road for sporting purposes. If I come across another road user on a narrow lane I often have to wait for them or back up. That doesn't mean they are obstructing the highway.”
by penn71, exeter
Friday, November 12 2010, 6:36PM
“The offence is obstructing the highway, not other highway users. So it is not necessary to prove that any other person was actually obstructed - the 'obstruction' can be made out if you simply occupy a section of highway.”
by penn71, exeter
Friday, November 12 2010, 6:15PM
“If the police fail to enforce the law if the public highway is obstructed by horses and hounds then presumably they would not have any problem if the anti hunt people block them in on the highway with their cars. After all you cannot allow one side to break the law but not the other”
by Giles Bradshaw, Rose Ash
Friday, November 12 2010, 12:50AM
“"Why is it necessary, or permissible, for a horde of horsemen to canter around the countryside with a pack hounds when hunting with dogs has been banned?"
Because it's damned good fun? Life should be about more than what is necessary. It is interesting that inspite of the fact that hunting foxes has been partially banned John Phelps still opposes the hunts. It's quite cler that is issue with them has nothing to do with animal cruelty whatsoever.
I would support the proposed law against animal cruelty which the anti hunting lobby opposes. I am completely confident that i am not being cruel and would be prepared to stand up in court and defend my self. The anti hunters no that in many cases mine included they could not prove cruelty and that is why they are scared of such a law.”
by Norman Bryant, west sussex
Thursday, November 11 2010, 8:16PM
“This is a Dear John letter, but not to say that you've been dumped but to say what a load of rubbish you say, you obviously feel inferior to those on a horse, god knows why but you do, first you need to deal with that before you start making what is a most ignorant remark”
by Sarah, Surrey
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 5:37PM
“"Why is it necessary, or permissible, for a horde of horsemen to canter around the countryside with a pack hounds when hunting with dogs has been banned?"
So that attitude explains why the hunt saboteurs attacked the Mid Surrey Drag Hunt last Saturday. Pleas that it had always been a drag hunt, even when foxhunting was legal, fell on deaf ears. It's nothing to do with objections to "cruelty", it's just a basic intolerance of anyone who wants to do anything different from the way they do.
Exactly how are you going to define, in law, the difference between a hunt with a pack of hounds and a group of riders out with their dogs? Will we have to apply for permits every time we want to go out for a hack in our own neighbourhood?”