MOD policy on exempt hunting on the defence estate
Published 3 March 2015
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In response to representations, MOD has today clarified that its existing policy allows all categories of exempt hunting under the Hunting Act 2004 to be carried out on the defence estate.
The 2004 Act bans hunting wild animals with dogs but does provide a number of exemptions, referred to as exempt hunting, for a variety of purposes, including:
- stalking and flushing out a wild mammal for certain purposes, with a view to its being shot forthwith, and not using more than 2 dogs
- use of not more than 1 dog at a time below ground in the course of stalking or flushing to protect birds for shooting
- hunting rats
- hunting rabbits
- retrieval of shot hares
- flushing a wild mammal from cover in connection with falconry
- recapture of an accidentally escaped wild mammal
- rescue of a wild mammal believed injured using not more than 2 dogs and no dog below ground; and
- observation and study of a wild mammal, using not more than 2 dogs and no dog below ground
Defence Infrastructure Organisation will permit all forms of exempt hunting in line with the Hunting Act. Permission will be granted, subject to it being compatible with defence use of the land, if MOD is satisfied the proposed activity does constitute exempt hunting and that there is a need for it.
This process will ensure that the department is protected from any allegations of illegal hunting while allowing all legal permitted forms of hunting to take place.