HUNTING compaigning body, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), is urging its members to respond to a six-week public consultation on the proposed Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

This is part of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee’s scrutiny of the bill, which will eventually replace the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. It will bring forward legislation restricting the number of dogs used for hunting wild mammals to no more than two.

Dr Colin Shedden, BASC Scotland director, told The SF: “BASC, alongside our sister organisations, is working hard to ensure that shooting activities, such as flushing quarry to guns, and the ability to control foxes is not impeded by this legislation. Members, particularly those who are involved in wildlife management, must respond to this consultation.

“We will be responding in full, focusing on the requirement of more than two dogs to flush foxes from large areas of cover; the complications arising from defining rabbits and squirrels within the legislation; and the rationale behind a 14-day licence for pest control, but a two-year licence for work that is of environmental benefit.”

The consultation closes on May 13, 2022.