The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Prevention of poaching N.I.

22.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), if any person enters any land without the consent of the owner or occupier or other lawful authority in search or pursuit of any deer with the intention of killing, injuring or taking it, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), if any person while on any land—

(a) intentionally kills, injures or takes any deer;

(b) searches for or pursues any deer with the intention of killing, injuring or taking it; or

(c) removes the carcase of any deer or any part thereof,

without the consent of the owner or occupier or other lawful authority, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) by reason of anything done in the reasonable belief that—

(a) he would have the consent of the owner or occupier of the land if the owner or occupier knew of his doing it and the circumstances of it; or

(b) he has other lawful authority to do it.

(4) Where an offence under paragraph (2) was committed in respect of more than one deer the maximum fine which may be imposed shall be determined as if the person convicted had been convicted of a separate offence in respect of each deer.

(5) If any authorised person suspects with reasonable cause that any person is committing or has committed an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) on any land, he may require that person—

(a) to give his full name and address; and

(b) to quit that land forthwith;

and any person who fails to comply with a requirement under this paragraph shall be guilty of an offence.

(6) In paragraph (5) “authorised person” in relation to any land, means the owner or occupier or any person authorised by the owner or occupier of the land, and includes any person having the right to take or kill deer on the land.