Illegal hunting with dogs
Illegal hunting with dogs is on the increase. Illegal hunters trespass upon land and damage fences while their dogs attack stock as well as game. Landowners are frustrated because they struggle to have such offenders brought to justice. Landowners and hunters are not familiar with the rights of landowners.
Illegal hunting with dogs is on the increase. Illegal hunters trespass upon land and damage fences while their dogs attack stock as well as game. Landowners are frustrated because they struggle to have such offenders brought to justice. Landowners and hunters are not familiar with the rights of landowners.
It appears that the police also are not always well informed regarding the legislation. Th e Fencing Act (Act 31 of 1963) and illegal trespassing are of particular concern. Because the police do not know the rights of a landowner, they cannot determine whether an offence is committed when people are hunting with dogs without the necessary permission. This is compounded by the fact that prosecutors and magistrates also seem to be unfamiliar with landowners’ rights.
Illegal hunts usually take place on private property, specifically when the landowner is away. This could indicate worker involvement. In many instances the veld is burnt beforehand to open it up. When the grass starts growing again, the animals are lured back and are easy prey for hunting dogs.
Landowners who complain or take action against illegal hunters are victimised. Their pasture is also burnt every year so that they have no grazing for their stock. Traditional hunting is allowed when the necessary permission has been granted and is supervised. However, hunters are not allowed to turn up on a farm and hunt for the pot.
The so-called taxi hunts that are carried out on an organised basis are also illegal. In these cases up to 60 dogs are transported by taxis and, together with the hunters, they plunder game and livestock. Gambling is the main motivation behind illegal hunting with dogs. The owner of the dog that brings down the first animal is the winner. The dogs are not selective when they hunt and endangered species are often victims of the hunt.
If a landowner has evidence of illegal hunting on his land, he can have the perpetrators arrested. Owners must get as much evidence as possible, such as photographs and statements of witnesses, to justify the arrests and ensure prosecution. The district conservation officers can also be contacted for help. Where landowners catch hunters in the act, they are often outnumbered and it is unlikely that the landowner will apprehend the hunters. If the police are called, the hunters and their dogs often have fled by the time the police arrive at the scene.
Illegal hunting with dogs amounts to stock theft and poaching, which are regarded as serious offences by the courts. Lay a formal complaint with the SAPS, but get all evidence together to convince the SAPS and the prosecutor to charge.
The legislation applicable to the illegal hunting with dogs is often difficult to interpret. The most important message, though, is that hunting with dogs and trespassing on private land is illegal and that perpetrators can be prosecuted.