Submit your responses to Hunting with Dogs Bill consultation

BASC is urging members to respond to a six-week public consultation on the proposed Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

The consultation is part of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee’s scrutiny of the bill.

The bill will eventually replace the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 and bring forward legislation restricting the number of dogs used for hunting wild mammals to no more than two.

Dr Colin Shedden, BASC Scotland director, said: “BASC, alongside our sister organisations, is working hard to ensure that shooting activities, such as flushing quarry to guns, and the ability to control foxes is not impeded by this legislation. Members, particularly those who are involved in wildlife management, must respond to this consultation.

“BASC will be responding in full, focusing on the requirement of more than two dogs to flush foxes from large areas of cover; the complications arising from defining rabbits and squirrels within the legislation; and the rationale behind a 14-day licence for pest control but a two-year licence for work that is of environmental benefit.”

For more information on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill and how it will affect shooting, read our blog from Dr Colin Shedden here.

The consultation closes on 13 May 2022. Responses can be made to either a short survey of 17 questions or a more detailed survey of 25 questions. Click here to take part.

If you have any further questions please click here to contact the Scotland office.