Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928

F1 [7 Close seasons. N.I.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the next succeeding sub-section, it shall be unlawful for any person wilfully to take, kill or destroy—

(a) any hare during the period commencing on the first day of February in any year and ending with the eleventh day of August next following;

(b) any grouse during the period commencing on the first day of December in any year and ending with the eleventh day of August next following;

[F2 (bb) any partridge or snipe during the period commencing on 1st February in any year and ending with 31st August next following;]

(c) any[F2 other game-bird] during the period commencing on the first day of February in any year and ending with the thirtieth day of September next following;

and in this Act the expression “close season” means, in relation to any kind of game, the period respectively provided by the foregoing provisions of this sub-section.

(2) Nothing in the preceding sub-section shall render unlawful the pursuing and killing of hares during the period commencing on the first day of February in any year and ending with the thirty-first day of March next following—

(a) by hunting with beagles or other hounds; F3 . . .

(b) F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F2 (3) The Minister of the Environment (in this Act referred to as “the Minister”) may by order—

(a) amend subsection (1) so as to vary the close season in relation to any kind of game; or

(b) amend subsection (2) so as to vary the period referred to in that subsection.]

[F4 (3A) If it appears to the Department expedient that any game birds should be protected during any period outside the close season for those birds, the Department may make an order with respect to the whole or any specified part of Northern Ireland declaring any period (which shall not in the case of any order exceed 14 days) as a period of special protection for those birds.

(3B) This section shall have effect as if any period of special protection declared under subsection (3A) for any game birds formed part of the close season for those birds.

(3C) Before making an order under subsection (3A) the Department shall consult a person appearing to the Department to be a representative of persons interested in the shooting of game birds of the species proposed to be protected by the order.]

(4) F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Subs. (5) amends s. 4 of 1831 c. 32

(6) Any person who acts in contravention of any of the provisions of sub-section (1) F6 . . . of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.]

F1 1951 c.4 (NI)

F2 2002 c.2(NI)

F3 S. 7(2)(b) and preceding word repealed (17.8.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 15), ss. 39(2), 40(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 3; S.R. 2011/285, art. 2, Sch.

F4 S. 7(3A)-(3C) inserted (17.8.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 15), ss. 37(2), 40(1); S.R. 2011/285, art. 2, Sch.

F5 S. 7(4) repealed (17.8.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 15), ss. 36(3)(b), 39(2), 40(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 2; S.R. 2011/285, art. 2, Sch.

F6 Words in s. 7(6) repealed (17.8.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 15), ss. 39(2), 40(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 2; S.R. 2011/285, art. 2, Sch.