Proposed ban on nighttime hunting comes under fire

The prospect of a nighttime ban on hunting and shooting in the autumn/winter period is coming under fire in the southwest, where the issue of criminals lurking with intent, rather than genuinely looking for rabbits or foxes, is of concern.

The nighttime ban has been proposed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is now before the Firearms Consultative Panel of the Department of Justice and Equality. It would put a stop to all lamping and nighttime hunting between midnight and 6am from September to the end of March when lamping and lurching are at their height in areas like north Kerry and Cork.

Local gardaí would have to be informed of hunters’ movements outside curfew hours under the proposals.