Hunting and shooting wildlife

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Mammals

There are different rules for foxes, deer and other mammals.

Foxes

It鈥檚 illegal to hunt foxes with a pack of dogs. You can use dogs to simulate hunting, for example 鈥榙rag鈥� or 鈥榯rail鈥� hunting.

You can use up to 2 dogs to chase (鈥榝lush鈥� or 鈥榮talk鈥�) foxes out of hiding if the fox is causing damage to your property or the environment.

Your dogs can鈥檛 go underground to find the foxes unless they鈥檙e threatening wild or game birds kept for shooting - only one dog can go underground at any time.

You must:

  • shoot the fox quickly after it鈥檚 been found

  • carry proof you own the land you鈥檙e shooting on or written permission from the landowner

You can be fined, and your dogs or hunting equipment taken away, if you break the law.

There are other ways you can control foxes if they鈥檙e causing damage to your property or the environment.

Deer

You must follow the restrictions on

You need a licence to shoot deer:

  • in the closed season
  • at night (at any time of the year)

You can鈥檛 use a vehicle to chase deer.

Other mammals

You can hunt or shoot some other mammals.

There are