Hare coursing meaning

Hare coursing is the use of dogs to pursue live hares, often as a competitive “coursing event” in which dogs are assessed on their ability to course, catch or kill a hare. In practice it features in wildlife crime, poaching and rural trespass prosecutions. In England and Wales, the term is defined in legislation: the Hunting Act 2004, s.5(2) defines a “hare coursing event” and makes it an offence to participate in, attend or facilitate such events; s.1 also prohibits hunting a wild mammal with a dog. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced specific hare coursing offences (including trespass with intent to pursue hares and being equipped to do so), expanded powers to seize dogs and vehicles, and enabled forfeiture, disqualification and compensation orders. In Scotland, there is no separate statutory definition; hare coursing is prosecuted as unlawful hunting with dogs under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023. In Northern Ireland, live hare coursing is unlawful under animal welfare and wildlife legislation and associated trespass/poaching provisions. In Ireland (Republic), hare coursing remains lawful only under licence under the Wildlife Acts; events are regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and require muzzled dogs.