Game Preservation Act, 1930

Exemption for netting of hares for coursing.

10.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other section of this Act, it shall be lawful for any member, agent, or servant of a recognised coursing club who is duly authorised in this behalf in writing by a responsible officer of such club to take hares alive by means of nets at any time (other than during the annual close season) solely for the purposes of such club or to take hares alive by means of nets at any time between the 15th day of August in any year and the last day of February in the next following year (both days inclusive) in any year solely for use by such club in coursing matches.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other section of this Act, it shall be lawful for any person, with the permission in writing of the superintendent of the Gárda Síochána for the district in which he takes or proposes to take hares, to take hares alive by means of nets between the 15th day of August in any year and the last day of February in the next following year (both days inclusive) in any year solely for sale to a recognised coursing club for the purposes of such club and it shall be lawful for a responsible officer of a recognised coursing club to purchase hares so taken for such purposes.

(3) Any person who, having taken or claiming to have taken hares by virtue of an exemption conferred by this section, uses such hares for any purpose other than the purpose for which such exemption is so conferred shall be guilty of an offence under this Part of this Act and shall be punishable accordingly.