Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 30 July 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all licences issued by NatureScot for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, broken down by the (a) geographical location of the area covered by each licence, (b) purpose of the maximum number of dogs permitted in each case, (c) minimum number of guns required in each case and (d) period of time for which each licence is valid.
All licences issued by NatureScot to date, for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, have been for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands, and crops. No licences have yet to be issued for environmental benefits.
NatureScot publishes a summary of licences issued on their website at https://www.nature.scot/doc/summary-licensing-data
Commence Date | Expiry Date | Locations | Annex II Permitted Dates | Maximum number of dogs permitted | Minimum number of guns required |
30-Nov-23 | 30-May-24 | Perth and Kinross | 30 Nov 2023 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
19-Dec-23 | 19-Jun-24 | Perth and Kinross | 19 Dec 2023 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 13 |
20-Dec-23 | 20-Jun-24 | Perth and Kinross | 20 Dec 2023 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
21-Dec-23 | 21-Jun-24 | Perth and Kinross | 21 Dec 2023 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 14 |
21-Dec-23 | 21-Jun-24 | Perth and Kinross | 21 Dec 2023 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 18 |
18-Jan-24 | 18-Jul-24 | Perth and Kinross | 18 Jan 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 14 |
18-Jan-24 | 18-Jul-24 | Perth and Kinross | 17 Jan 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 13 |
19-Jan-24 | 19-Jul-24 | Argyll & Bute | 18 Jan 2024 - 15 March 2024 | 12 | 20 |
19-Jan-24 | 19-Jul-24 | Perth and Kinross | 19 Jan 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 13 |
25-Jan-24 | 25-Jul-24 | Perth and Kinross | 25 Jan 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 10 |
26-Jan-24 | 26-Jul-24 | Highland | 26 Jan 2024 - 15 April 2024 | 18 | 10 |
30-Jan-24 | 30-Jul-24 | Highland | 29 Jan 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 16 | 15 |
01-Feb-24 | 01-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 01 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 10 |
01-Feb-24 | 01-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 01 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
01-Feb-24 | 01-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 01 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 15 |
02-Feb-24 | 02-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 02 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 14 |
05-Feb-24 | 05-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 05 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
05-Feb-24 | 05-Aug-24 | Stirling | 05 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
06-Feb-24 | 06-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 06 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
08-Feb-24 | 08-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 08 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 14 |
08-Feb-24 | 08-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 08 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 15 |
13-Feb-24 | 01-Jul-24 | Scottish Borders | 13 Feb 2024 - 31 March 2024 | 20 | 8 in three locations, 15 in one location and 17 in one location |
28-Feb-24 | 28-Aug-24 | Perth and Kinross | 21 Feb 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 8 |
01-Mar-24 | 01-Sep-24 | Perth and Kinross | 01 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
01-Mar-24 | 01-Sep-24 | Perth and Kinross | 01 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
05-Mar-24 | 05-Sep-24 | Highland | 05 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 16 | 14 |
07-Mar-24 | 07-Sep-24 | Perth and Kinross | 09 March 2024 - 17 March 2024 | 16 | 10 in two locations and 15 in one location |
11-Mar-24 | 11-Sep-24 | Scottish Borders | 11 March 2024 - 31 May 2024 | 25 | 15 |
14-Mar-24 | 14-Sep-24 | Midlothian | 14th March 2024 - 31 March 2024 | 20 | 15 |
18-Mar-24 | 18-Sep-24 | Scottish Borders | 18 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 8 |
23-Mar-24 | 23-Sep-24 | Argyll & Bute | 23 March - 31 May 2024 | 20 | 20 |
25-Mar-24 | 25-Sep-24 | Scottish Borders | 25 March 2024 - 31 May 2024 | 16 | 30 |
27-Mar-24 | 27-Sep-24 | Argyll & Bute | 27 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 15 | 20 |
28-Mar-24 | 28-Sep-24 | Dumfries & Galloway | 28 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 18 | 5 |
28-Mar-24 | 28-Sep-24 | Perth and Kinross | 30 March 2024 - 30 May 2024 | 20 | 10 |
28-Mar-24 | 28-Sep-24 | Perth and Kinross | 28 March 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 12 |
04-Apr-24 | 04-Oct-24 | Scottish Borders | 04 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 15 | 15 |
04-Apr-24 | 04-Oct-24 | Perth and Kinross | 04 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 6 |
04-Apr-24 | 04-Oct-24 | Scottish Borders | 04 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 20 |
09-Apr-24 | 09-Oct-24 | Perth and Kinross | 09 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 | 20 | 15 |
26-Apr-24 | 26-Oct-24 | Dumfries & Galloway | 26 April 2024 - 31 May 2024 | 18 | 5 |