Law on hunting

law on Hunting LAW ON HUNTING CHAPTER1 GIiNEiRAL PROVISIONS 149 Article 1 The following terma ere used in the Law: 1} Hunting areas - territories suitable for game naturalUfe and usedfor hunting; 2} Game· wild mammals andbirdsthe processed products of which all~ usedin national economy; ::iuspenaea Dy LSW Of OO.Dfl.rssz: 3) Gameresources • all game In theterritoryot Latvia; 4) Gamemanagement - system of natural resource utilization which In line with obtaining game produotion onauroa tho numbor of 'Wild boaota for gomo fund and mlil;r,tainlll tho nO~Qaryhabitat for game; 5) Nature territories of special protection and usage - territories detennined by the statutory acts of 8aeimaor the Cabinetof Ministers; 6) Hunting licence - document pennlttlng to hunt limited or unlimited gamein the areadetermined in the licence; 1) Limited game • wild beasts forhunting of which a hunting licence Is Issued pennltting to hunt poasts of only one origin; 8) Unlimited game • wildbeastsfor hunllng ofWhlch a seasonhuntinglicence\s \ssued; 9) Hunting organization proJect. a document approved by state ForestService providing evaluation of the continuous hunting area: on basisof thisdocument tha number of limited game allowed to hunt is determined; 10) Hunting site - continuous hunting area managed by oneownerof hunting rights: 11)Hunting site managementproject ~ a document elaborated by the ownerof hunting rights providing gamecare organization and hunting resource utiliZationIn the hunting SIte andcomplied with huntingorganization project; 12)Hunting weapons· a shotgun witha singlebarrel orwithseveral barrels, combined shotguns andriflegunscharaedwithhunting munltlon; 13)Honting munitions - prepared cartridge consisting of a shellwith capsule, gunpowder and prodgy (hunting OOlle\5, pellets, gTeenQsg9S)for shooting witha huntingweapon; 14)Legar hunting appliances - traps, pitfallsand otherappliances of a definite typedetermined in the hunting licence issuedby Slate ForestServICe; 15)Gametrophies - gamehomstogether with scull (maxU\a orfronta\ bone),\an\afy,&\'-u\\s, and pelages. 16) Hunting rights OWner - lend owner or also land ueer until $Ipproving land ownership rights in the LandbOOks In whosepossession or usageexisting 180nd area Includes hunting areasrelevant to the provisions describedin the Law. 17)HuntIng ncence user - hunting rights owneror otherperson towhom according to agreement pursuant to the law hunting rights ownerhas given fils hunting rfght5 1:lIld whoIs managing the game fund; 18)Regulations on huntrng· statutory act approved by the Cabinet of Ministers determining the orderof hunting. 150 Lawon HunUng Article 2 Lawon huntingll«W~ bu\cPTOVislons onhunting management in the Republic OfLatvia. Article 3 ~:::~ha\l:e considered actJon thepurpose of which is to chase, capture, and kill gameas wellas ....Iken -peca,.".~ogdB, cat~S) rO~lng In hunting areas,8110 after tlwoer'lj request10hun linn righlti users in""II -.... r;A' amesIeammals. ., Article 4 (1)~a~ S~1/ administrate (account andprotect) the hunting resources in latvia. State forest Service ~mstitutions of the Ministry ofEnvironment Protettlon and Regional Dev&(~t shallsupervise utilization andprotection Ofgame/rlcompliance with laws and regulations OftheCabinetof Ministers, (2) Game bttcume!l the ~lSe~iOl1 of tile physical or logal entity on'" aftQr they have been huntAO in compUance with the presenttaw and respectlve regulatlons. (3) HUI!til'lg resources '6ha\\ be \lseQ &0 asnot to cause 4amage to otller management sectors, to ensure protection and preservation of the gamespecles, genepooland its habitat Article 5 StateForestSelVice shalldetermine the huntJng areas. Theyshallbe divided into huntingrlghtsowner areasand hunting Bgt$ement areas. Article 6 Hunting rights user shall manage the hunting funds. but State Forest SelVlce shall oontrol hunting process, anct accomplIshment (If hunting orge.niutlon ptOj9cl. ~on shaU be nature reserves and nationsl parks where the accomplishment of hunting organisation is controlled respectively by administration of natu~ te'l.eN~ ~ Natiooal Pari<.. CHAPTER 2 HUNTING UCENCEANDHUNTING RIGHTS Artlcle 7 (1)Hunten \iceoc8sha'h 'De a'oasiC document entitling tohUnt, to purchasehunting weapon5, lind to receive hunting licence. TheorderofpurchesltJg, reglstering, storing, andsenlng huntingweapons sh811 be d6tennlned by theCabinet of Ministers, but theorderof theirusageshallbe detennlned by the Rogl.llotionc on h'Jf'tino (2)Huntil1g withweapons shallbe pennlttecl provided theyare registered with StatePolice InstItUtIon as hunting weapons. (~) OnlyhuntinQ mun\\\ons sha\I be \1Mld forhunting. ArtIcleS (1)Hunter's licence maybe obtained by Inhabitants oftheRepublk; of latvia who haveruched theageof 18. Regional toomdI&tnC:t£ W<i\l. ",sue Hl,lm,eI"r. bnce aftW posing exam with1hehunters'examination commission. Theamount of knowledge to be tested shallby determined In Regulations on hunting. Hunter's Ilcence 8ha\\ Decons\de'red to be validIn all the territory ofLatvia. (2) RAQirmal Counc\\ Of cepubl\c towneaunciI shall~ the hunters' examination commission after StateForest ServiCe proposals inclUding expertsfrom State FOl'06tSarvica. AJWlronment protection. State Police. aswei! asrepresen1a\Ne& from hl.mtSf$' associations. Sta~e ForestSerlll~ e8ta~shi.ng feesfor taking exams and preparing hunter's licences shallfundthe functioning of hunters examination commission. The results of exam shallbe recon:Ied in minutes. (3) Suspended by laW of 1t..0'3.2000. 151 ArtIcle 9 (1) Hunte~' examination commission shan be enlitledto invalidate or temporally disable hunter's licence as 8 resu OfVI0!8tlon Oftt,te present Lawas well as Regulations on hunting. StateFores1 Service or J hmunter:s aSfiSDCiation estab!!shed in compliance with Atticle 10 of the presentLawsha/llnitiate thecaseof posing nesor Invalidating hunter's licence. ~t~~~~:spectlve State Police Institution shallbe informed abouthunter's licence invalidating or temporal ArtIcle 10 Inha~nts of th~ Republic of laMa possessing hunter's licence arepermitted 10huntindividually or form hunters associatIOnS onvoluntary basisandotherpublicorganizations as provided by law. ArtIole H (Suspended by LQwof 16.03.2000 coming inlo forceon 19.04,2000) Artiel" 12 The present Law, other laws,and Regulations on hUnting shalldetermine organization of hunting In speciallyprotected andutilized nature terrttories in order to control the numberof wild b&asts. ArtIcle 13 Foreign cilizenspossessing hunting documen1& issuedby StateForest8elVice of the Republic of latvia and their own country shallbe permitted tohuntin compliance withthe presentLawandRegulations on hunting. Article 14 (1)Utillza,\iorI of estates located Inhunting areas shallbe regulated by agreements signedbytheirowners and owners of huntingrightS. Tnese agreements shall btl annexes of hunting de management pn:Ijoct. Ownerof hunWs rlght.$ sl\all start acting in a hunting fund after the hunting site management project is registered withStateHeadForestry office. (2) USlir of hunting righlsshallnotpasshunting rightsover10thethird pefS(Jn unless otherwise provided by provisions of the present LaW. ArtlC\e15 Provisions of statutory acts shallaetennlne lenninalion of usinghuntingQr~le. Ownerof huntlno lightr,; shaltcover expenses ofhuntingresource reneMlIprovided they havedecreased as a resultof hisaction and provided suchamends are described Inagreement. CHAPTER 3 AMOUNT OF GAMESHOOTING ANDTHEORDER OF ISSUING HUNTING LICENCES Article 16 (1} The minimalhuntingareaswithinwhichIt Is permitted tohunt limitedgame in respective hunting site shall be as follows: 1) roe deerhUnting· not less than200ha Including all the forest landsand fenceless agricultural lands; 2) wildboar, cow and calf of red deerhunting· not lessthan 1000ha: 152 Lawon Hunting 3Jdeer bull hunting - notlessthan 2000 ha:, 4) elk hunting. not less thAn 2500 hAln areu. which atB named in hun' . funds, and 5000hain areas which arenamed Intheproject as redde&~~~IZe.t1on pmjacts as elk ~~~~n3=~~:~~~~~~;~dh~~~ ~~;:~restareasor theirpartsandseparate forestareasbigger Provl~ed the ~rovisjons (1) and{2:) of thisMlcle prohibithUn1lng, owners of hunting rightsshallbe permitted to signmutualagreements on organisIng limitedgamespecies careas described in huntl"ng organisation project. Article17 StateForest SeTVIce shall annually dQ.tem\ir.~ muknum alloWed number of limitedgameshooting in hunting areas in compliance With hunting organisation project. ArlieI.18 Statedutys~ be paid for hunting licencesandpennltsto takehunting trophie& cot of the Republic of latvia. Hunting trophies al'\clU be takan out of the Rapubllc of I Qtvla as provided in Rel:llJlallons on hunting. Mele 19 (1) A fund shall bs GSltabUshsd tnr daveloping hunting fund. (2) FUf'ld resources shallb6 usedfor the following purposes: 1) monitoring of gamepopulation, and consequent additional necessary protection measures; 2) SClentK\t: !lMiearctl of game and lIS popUlation: 3) pa1'tk:ipation Ininternational huntingorgan)zallons andexhibitions: (4) Cabinet of Ministersshallconflnn the Stab.J\eos of lhe Fund. (According to Lawof 16.03.201J0. el\f~ on "111.\)4.2000) Article20 (1) sate FOrest Servlctt territorial offices or admlnlatratlonl!. of nature reserves and national parkS in whose territorythe respective hunting areasare locatedshalllssue limitedgarnEt huntinglicences to hUf\@ng rightsowners In \tie beginning of the hunting $68.SOn. Admln\stration& of naturereserves andnational parksshall receive limited galll8 hunting licences at StateForestService and in a months timeafterthe endof hunting eoaeon sha" inform State ForestSelVlce aboutthe Issued huntingUaences and number of beastshunted. aawell as Irwalldate unuS6Cllloences. (2) StateFOfest Servfce mayissuehunting IlcenC68 b$yond the determined term arid beyond the de1ermlned amountof game shooting Inexceptional cases when vastdamage is doneto agriculture and torestry. (3) Hunting rights usersha" bepermitted to lwntunlimited game onlyafterreceiving hunting licence issuedbyStateForestService territorial offICe or administration of naturereserve or national part in whose tenitory the respec\lVe huntingareasarelocated.Administration ofnature reserve or national park shallinform StateForest5eJv1ceabout U\El illillued hunting 1l000000S~ number of beasts hunted. (Including amendm8f'lts by the Law of 16.03.2000. enfolCQd on 19.04.2000.) 153 Law on HunUng CIoIAP1'I;R4 GAME. TERMS AND TYPES OFHUNTING Article 21 (1) List ofgame, terms andtypes of huntingshall be determined by Regulations on hunting. (2) Hunting~ a !Joalto controllnfectiol'lsahallnotbe forbidden neitherby land Owner or usef norby ownerof huntingfightS. ArtlcJe22 {') My huntingshall b& reportedto the local stateforestry officebeforehand. Statehead forester, state forester or tholr apPOinted State Forout Service offIew ahall control the hunting procedurv. (2) Hunting with hunting appliances shall be pelTl1itted onlywitha permit in writtenissued byStateForest Service. ArtIcle 23 Wegel hunting shallmean: 1} huntingwithin termsandtime ofday not complying with the Regulations on hunting; 2) huntingwithouthunter's licence(does not referto Chasers), huntinglicence, and huntlng weapons usage llc9nce; 3} huntingprovided hunting licencehas not bean flIledat tl\9 site where gamehasbeenshotor wQundetl; 4) in areaselosOO for hunting; 5) huntingwithoutlandoWner's or landuser'sandhuntingrights user'sagreement; 6) huntingin circumstances when beastsare fledging trom naturecatastrophtts; 7) hunting usingnight vision~lOes whictlfunction on basi6of invisible for human eyeray, as well as laser typeor likewise opticalsights(exceptfor filamenttype.Kghting devices); 8) Deingin hUnting aTealS provided an individual has not applied at the local fOf'9Sby but the indi\lidual is possessing prepared for use (set or uncovered by propercover) weapon or traps, nooses, or other huntingappliances, possessing obtained gameproduction, as well as being on general roadswith prepared for usage weapon; 9) any otheractionprovided appliances and tYPes of hurrtlll9 used do not complywith thoRcgulation& onhunUng. ArtIcle 24 ("l) 'Hun\lng or capturing of gamefor the purpose of scientific research, exhibitingInmuseums, breeding in a differentplaceor keeping in captivityshail be permitted onlywithStale Forestservice single permit. (2) Prohibited (or hunting wild beastsshan be obtained, hunted 01 kept In C8j)tMty witha single parmltof the Ministry of Environment Protection andRegional Development. 'Pr'f1ging game inlo the Republic of Latvia from anothercountry shallbe permitted onlywlttr a singlepermit of Ministryofenvironment Protection andRegional Development and Ste.te ForMt SaMes. 154 CHAPTER 5 HUNTING RE80URC';: SUPERVl810N AND LIABILITY FORVIOLAnON OF THE PRESENT LAW UlW on "'unting Ar1lc'02G (1) S.upervislon on enforcement of the present Law andotherstatutory actsrelevantto hunting outside hunting areas shallbe carried out bystaleandlocaloommunitles poIk:e forces within the scopeof their competence. but rega«1ir\g \lktgall\UntlTlg ~ alsoofficers of State Forest Service andMinistryof Environment Prot~ction and Regional Development. (2) StateForest serviceshall carry out supervision Inall hunting areas. bUt landowneror userand hunting tights ownershallcany out supervision In hisownhunting areas. If necessary co-oroinated action of all unitsmentioned in 1his Article and Home guards shall be permitted for carrying oul supervision in hunting areasand outOftheir boundS. Artic"26 In order to BIUitJRi UI8 dam!!91=' done by th" game to agriculture, domestlo anlmal3, end foreGtry Staw Forest Service shallestablishcommission ineluding representatiVes from the respective localcommunity, hunting rights users. andalso therespective experts. Thecommission shaH dateTmlne the amount of damage according to themethods approved by the Ministry of Agriculture. Hunting rights usersshall cover ttw expenses unkas8 provided o1heTWl9eo by ttle $l~t on tltlnsfarTlnghunting rights. case of disputethe court shall makethe decision. Article-27 Damage caused by physical or legal entItY to hunung tund through violation of thl:! pruent Law or other acts of law ralevant to hunting sMII be compensated as provided by law and to extentdetermined by the cabinet of Ministers. The compensation shallbe awarded in favourof thestate. (According to Lawof 16.03.2000 enforced on 19.04.2000) Art\C\e 28 For Violating the present Law physical and legalentlties shallbe called toaocount as provided by law. CHAPTER 6 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS =io~ of international agreements shall be enforced in the territory of Latvia provtded the s\gned international agreements. provide other regulations onhunting than thoseIn the present law.