Ireland

Summary

Ireland forbids the arrow by name. Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976 says that no one may hunt any wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal by means of a trap, snare, net, line, hook, arrow, dart, spear or similar device however propelled, instrument or missile. The Act defines hunting widely, from stalking and lying in wait to shooting by any means and killing in the course of the hunt. A breach is a criminal offence.

The arrow has been in the section from the start. The text of 1976 already banned hunting any wild bird or wild mammal with an arrow, dart, spear or similar device; the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 added the words however propelled and extended the ban to protected wild animals.

The legal mechanism

• Wildlife Act 1976, s. 34(1)(a), as substituted by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, s. 42, in force since 31 July 2001: a person shall not hunt any wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal by means of an arrow, dart, spear or similar device however propelled, instrument or missile, nor with traps, snares, nets, lines, hooks, birdlime, poisoned bait, gas, smoke or electrical devices.
• Definition, s. 1: to hunt means to stalk, pursue, chase, drive, flush, capture, course, attract, follow, search for, lie in wait for, take, trap or shoot by any means, with or without dogs, and includes killing in the course of hunting.
• Exceptions, s. 34(2) and (3): the ban does not cover what another statute or a licence under it permits, and the Minister may license a closed list of acts: live capture for propagation, netting hares for coursing clubs, live capture of hawks and falcons for falconry, the use of poison, gas, smoke or other devices named in the licence against serious damage, and taking animals for research, education or relocation. No licence permitting a bow was found.
• Penalties, s. 74(2): an offence under s. 34 carries a class A fine, up to six months in prison, or both, on summary conviction, and a fine of up to 100,000 euros, up to two years, or both, on indictment.
• History: the text of 1976 banned hunting any wild bird or wild mammal by means of a trap, snare, net, line, hook, arrow, dart, spear or similar device, instrument or missile; the amending Act of 2000 added however propelled and the protected wild animals.

Before you go

This page describes the Wildlife Act as it stood on the date below, in the Law Reform Commission’s revised text. A change would show up as an amendment to s. 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976; if you hear that the bow has been allowed, ask for the amending act and its date in the Irish Statute Book. Until then, hunting with a bow in Ireland is a criminal offence. The final check is yours.