I am posting this for information only. I do not want to get involved in any further hunting debates - I am posting this because I think it is of interest to those of us who have dogs (taken from H&H: H&H article )

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<<This stalking and flushing has to take place on land belonging to the person carrying it out, or by the landowner's permission. It cannot involve more than two dogs. There is some argument whether this means two dogs per person or two dogs overall; personally I think it means only two dogs in total. Once the animal has been stalked or flushed it must be shot as soon as reasonably possible.>>

This is the problem I brought up on another thread. If there are more than two dogs beating at a shoot and a fox is put up it will be illegal to shoot it. A grey area is, if there is only two dogs beating but another picking up, is it then legal or not?

Regards, John

Having read the article, another grey area is the beating line, I am not sure where I stand on these two questions. On my shoot the gamekeeper has 3 spaniels, then there are another 4 beaters who regularly bring dogs, myself included. Therefore is this more than the 2 dogs? Also I see it says all people with dogs need the landowners permission, does this mean each of us beating will have to carry a letter from the farmer to say we are allowed to be there?

>The person doing the stalking and flushing must have with him written evidence to show the land belongs to him or that he has the permission of the landowner.

>It is an offence for any person to knowingly permit his land to be used or entered for hunting wild animals with dogs. So if you ask a farmer for permission to hunt over his land, he is committing an offence if he agrees.

Catch 22?

Are stalking and flushing not classed as hunting then? Is that what its implying?

I'm not sure what you mean ChloeH. I am trying to find out how I stand legally as a beater on a shoot which has more than two dogs in the beating line, and do I have to have written permission to be on that land?

Polly - I was replying to JG's post /\ above :)

I see that now Doh! However what my legal position is, appears "as clear as mud to me"! Perhaps I am just being slow today. I have not entered any of the hunting debates as I believe everyone has a right to their own views.

It seems very ambiguous to me. :(

perhaps thats the point... :(

I have permission to hunt with my dogs on my neighbours land, obviously after Feb it will just be for rabbits, if my naughty dogs kill a hare will the farmer be in trouble too?

Geoff, can someone please explain to me why rabbits obviously dont feel pain, yet hares do. That must be correct otherwise why ban one & not the other??

It's the same as with mice and rats, sam! Rats can be killed by dogs but mice can't! :rolleyes: