Summary
The Hunting Act 2004 banned hunting wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, primarily targeting fox hunting, deer hunting, hare hunting, and hare coursing. It was the first Act passed under the Parliament Acts procedure since 1949.
Key Points
- Criminal offence to hunt a wild mammal with a dog (s.1)
- Exempt hunting — limited exceptions including stalking/flushing to guns with no more than two dogs
- Hare coursing specifically prohibited (s.2)
- Offence to permit land to be used for hare coursing
- Passed using Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 after Lords rejected it