Law of Field Sports

Written by leading practitioners in the field, Law of Field Sports is the first book on the Game Act 1831 for the best part of a century during which time there has been considerable reform of the law. This book contains a detailed analysis of the civil and criminal law relating to shooting and hunting and offers a practical evaluation of the Hunting Act 2004. The authors look at the law of poaching and control of shooting and hunting in terms of closed seasons and provide up-to-date precedents on the Ground Game Act 1880. A useful overview of pertinent firearms law is also included. Land ownership of rural land is also covered so far as it relates to shooting and hunting, in particular the issue of how field sports rights are treated by the law of real property. The book also sets out the law appertaining to badgers, deer and other species managed in the countryside. Law of Field Sports provides a comprehensive single source of reference that will prove invaluable for practitioners drafting game rights in sporting or farming leases, or defending those who might have fallen foul of the law and be facing prosecution in relation to game issues.

Table of Cases Table of Statutes; Table of Statutory Instruments Table of International Material Foreword Introduction 1 Ownership of Wild Animals and Birds 2 Game and its Various Meanings and Definitions 3 The Game Act 1831 4 The Right to Sport or to Kill or Take Game 5 Ground Game 6 Closed Seasons 7 Poaching 8 Hunting 9 Badgers 10 Deer 11 A Brief Overview of the Law Relating to Guns 12 Animal Welfare and Expert Witnesses Appendices ; Appendix A - Precedents Appendix B - Statutes Index