Use of dogs to control foxes and other wild mammals: consultation

Annex B: Consultation questions

Section 1 – limit on the number of dogs used to flush wild mammals

1. In situations where the use of dogs is permitted, including searching for or flushing a wild mammal to waiting guns, do you think the Scottish Government should limit the number of dogs that can be used to two?

Yes
No
Don't Know

2. If a two dog limit were to be introduced, should the Scottish Government introduce licensing arrangements to allow the use of more than two dogs in certain circumstances?

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you answered yes, please briefly explain the circumstances under which more than two dogs would be needed (max 150 words).

3. If licensing arrangements to permit more than two dogs in certain circumstances were to be introduced, should there be a limit to the number of dogs that could be used? E.g. no more than four dogs, six dogs etc.

Max. number
No Limit
Don't Know

Section 2 – trail hunting

4. Do you agree that the Scottish Government should ban trail hunting?

For the purposes of this consultation we are defining trail hunting as:

'The hunting of a scent laid manually in such a way as best to simulate traditional mounted hunting activity. The trail is laid along the line a fox might take when moving across the countryside. Trail hunters use animal-based scent, primarily fox urine, a scent with which the hounds are familiar and with which it is intended they should remain familiar.'

Yes
No
Don't Know

5. Other than for the purpose of laying a trail for sport as outlined in question 4, are you aware of any other activities or circumstances which may necessitate the setting of an animal-based or artificial scent for dogs to follow?

Yes
No
Don't Know

If you answered yes to question 5, please explain the reason for your answer here (max 150 words):

Section 3 – mammals covered by the 2002 Act

6. For the purposes of this Bill do you agree with the current definition of wild mammal?

The 2002 Act defines a wild mammal as including 'a wild mammal which has escaped, or been released, from captivity, and any mammal which is living wild'. However, rabbits and rodents^[3] are excluded from this definition. This means that this Act does not prohibit the use of a dog or dogs to hunt and kill a rabbit/s or rodent/s. However, some species of rodents such as beavers and red squirrels are afforded certain protections within other wildlife legislation^[4].

Yes
No
Don't Know

7. If you answered no to question 6, do you think that:

Rabbits should be included in this definition

All species of rodent should be included in this definition

Some but not all species of rodents should be included in this definition

None of the mammals listed should be included in the definition

Please add any further comments on this section here (max 150 words):

8. For the purposes of this Bill, do you agree that a person should be allowed to use dogs to stalk, search and flush wild mammals for the purpose of controlling the number of a 'pest' species?

The 2002 Act permits the use of dogs to flush from cover or from below ground for a number of different purposes including the purpose of 'controlling the number of a pest species'. The 2002 Act defines pest species as; foxes, hares, mink, stoats and weasels.

Yes
No
Don't Know

9. For the purposes of this Bill do you agree with this definition of pest species?

The 2002 Act defines "pest species" as foxes, hares, mink, stoats and weasels.

Yes
No
Don't Know

10. If you answered no to question 9, do you think that:

Hares should be included in the definition of pest species

Stoats should be included in definition of pest species

Mink should be included in the definition of pest species

Weasels should be included in the definition of pest species

None of the mammals listed should be included in the definition of pest species

Please add any further comments on this section here (max 150 words):

Section 4 – hare coursing

Under the 2002 Act, it is an offence to use dogs to hunt brown and mountain hares (hare-coursing) however, we are aware that illegal hunting still continues in some areas. We are considering whether there are any further changes to the law which could discourage this practice.

11. Do you think the current legislation provides sufficient protection in order to tackle hare coursing in Scotland?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain the reason for your answer here (max 150 words):

Section 5 – comments

12. If you have any other comments on the proposals we have set out in sections one to four of this consultation or if there are any further measures relating to the hunting of wild mammals with dogs that you think we should consider please provide them here (max 350 words).

Section 6 – Evaluation

Please help us improve our consultations by answering the questions below. (Responses to the evaluation will not be published).

Question 13:

How satisfied were you with this consultation?

Very dissatisfied

Slightly dissatisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Slightly satisfied

Very satisfied

Please enter comments here

Question 14:

How would you rate your satisfaction with using this platform (Citizen Space) to respond to this consultation?

Very dissatisfied

Slightly dissatisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Slightly satisfied

Very satisfied

Not applicable

Please enter comments here