Illegal hunting with dogs often linked to criminal activity
Illegal hunting with dogs is a serious criminal gateway often linked to stock theft, poaching, and malicious damage to property, police says.
If you are found on fenced land with dogs and no permit, the burden can shift to you to prove you weren’t there to steal livestock or game.
According to Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, written consent is needed from the owner or lawful occupier. He warns that entry without permission is a direct violation of the Trespass Act.
The Free State Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit specifically targets organized events where groups are transported to farms with large numbers of dogs (sometimes up to 60). Often the unit collaborates with the SPCA to bring additional charges under the Animal Protection Act if the hunting methods cause unnecessary suffering.
If you are planning a hunt, it is vital to contact your local Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) or the relevant provincial conservation office to confirm the current regulations and apply for the correct permits, Kareli advised.
Consumptive hunting without these documents can lead to arrest and the confiscation of equipment and vehicles.
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