Hunting bill puts shooters at risk of prosecution

Bill returns to Stormont

A bill to ban hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland could criminalise shooting and gundog work, Countryside Alliance Ireland has warned.

The Hunting with Dogs Bill, brought by Alliance MLA John Blair, was reintroduced to the Assembly on 27 April, nearly five years after it was last defeated. It proposes criminalising hunting wild mammals with dogs, as well as trail hunting and terrier work. Exemptions for using dogs above ground are restricted to preventing damage to crops or livestock, disease, or harm to biodiversity. Sporting and food purposes are excluded.

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Concerns over gundog work

Countryside Alliance Ireland director Gary McCartney warned the bill could impose a “fundamental restriction” on shooting and put shooters at risk of prosecution. “Poorly defined terms around dogs ‘pursuing’ wild mammals create real concern that gundog work during shooting could be caught up in the restrictions,” he said. “Shooting relies on well-trained dogs to minimise suffering of wounded animals and enable responsible management. Any legislation that fails to protect this clearly risks being unworkable, damaging to rural livelihoods and counterproductive for animal welfare.”

Mr McCartney pointed out it would be unlawful to use a dog to find a rabbit to shoot for the pot, to rely on exemptions to protect gamebirds and to use terriers below ground to control foxes. “It is far from clear where the bill leaves deer stalking, especially recreational stalking for food,” he added.

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Political context

The bill was previously defeated by 45 votes to 38. The political backdrop has since shifted. At its ard fheis on 25 April, Sinn Féin delegates voted narrowly to back a ban on fox hunting, reversing a position that had previously favoured regulation and which saw the party whip its MLAs against the bill in 2021. The party has not yet stated how it will vote on Blair’s reintroduced legislation.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where hunting with dogs remains legal.