Types of illegal hunting
Not all hunting is against the law. In some cases, you may have special permissions or authorisation to hunt. Below are instances in which hunting may be legal.
Hunting with dogs
You can legally hunt with dogs in special circumstances. In these cases, you must be on your own land or have permission from the landowner.
In some cases, you must also have authority from a police constable. If unsure, please see 'Contact us'.
Hunting activities that can be legal with the use of dogs are:
- preventing or reducing serious damage to livestock, crops, or wild birds, or for another protective reason
- obtaining meat for human or animal consumption
- hunting rats
- hunting rabbits
- to retrieve shot hares
- flushing out wild mammals to allow a bird of prey to hunt it
- recapturing or shooting a mammal that has escaped or been released from captivity
- ending a mammal’s suffering
- to observe or study the wild mammal
It's important to note that other restrictions still apply with the above activities. Please see the other sub-sections for hunting specific types of wildlife. You can also find out more about exempted hunting in the Hunting Act 2004.
When hunting with dogs is illegal
With a few exemptions, using dogs to hunt wild mammals, such as foxes, rats and rabbits, is illegal. This includes using dogs to hunt or pursue badgers, minks and otters.
See 'Foxes' and 'Hares and rabbits' on Illegal hunting.
Hunting with firearms
You can legally shoot hares and rabbits on your own land if you have the correct firearm licence (see ‘Using firearms’ further down this page).
Other people can also legally shoot hares and rabbits on your land, provided they have the correct firearm licence and written permission from yourself. These people include:
- one other person from your household
- your staff
- someone being employed or paid to control game on your land
You can shoot rabbits on your own land all year except for Christmas Day.
You can shoot hares on your own land all year except for Sundays and Christmas Day.
It is illegal to shoot hares and rabbits on the following types of land:
- moorland
- unenclosed land
There is a closed season for shooting on these types of land. Find out more in the Ground Game Act 1880.
In very limited circumstances, you can shoot deer, badgers, foxes, and even dogs. This may include:
- mercy killings
- defending livestock on your own land from dogs, but you must notify police within 48 hours as per the Animals Act 1971
Please see the section on ‘Deer’ on the Illegal hunting page for more information on hunting deer.
For more on badgers, see Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
For more on dogs, see Animals Act 1971.
Using firearms
When participating in a shooting, you must have a licence for any firearm you are using.
Alternatively, if you are borrowing a firearm that needs a licence, that firearm must be:
- borrowed from a person who is certified and licensed for that firearm, and aged 18 years or over
- used in the presence of the licensed holder
- used on private property with permission of the landowner
These laws apply even if you are shooting at artificial targets.
Using traps and snares
Traps and snares are commonly used in hunting. For a trap or snare to be legal, it must be:
- certified and designed to the correct standards for the animal you are hunting
- used on your own land, or with permission from the landowner
- checked regularly to prevent unnecessary suffering to the animal
You are breaking the law if you do not adhere to the above. There are restrictions on the trapping or snaring of certain animals that requires a licence from Natural England (in England) and Natural Resources Wales (in Wales).
Find out more in:
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Hunting in Scotland or Northern Ireland
It is important to note that laws within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are subject to local governance and can be slightly different. If you are planning to hunt in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you should check guidelines and restrictions in these areas.