Freedom of Information Request - Hunting with Dogs
Date: 20 October 2025
Our ref: SIR181816/A5524155
Information Request – Hunting with Dogs
Your Request
The number of licence applications for the use of more than two dogs to flush to guns received by NatureScot between 1 April 2025 to date.
2. The number of licences for the use of more than two dogs to flush to guns granted by NatureScot between 1 April 2025 to date.
3. For all licences granted in that period, please provide a copy of the following information (appropriately redacted if necessary): (i) the application form and any supporting documentation; (ii) the licence (showing any conditions imposed) and any supporting documentation (including NatureScot’s justification for granting the licence and copies of any assessments undertaken in support of the application).
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Licensing Team, and we have responded to each part of your request as follows:
The number of licence applications for the use of more than two dogs for flush to guns received by NatureScot between 1 April to date?
We have received three applications from the 1 April 2025 to the date of your request.
The number of licences for the use of more than two dogs to flush to guns granted by NatureScot between the 1 April 2025 to date?
We have granted two licences from the 1 April 2025 to the date of your request.
For all licences granted in that period, please provide a copy of the following information (appropriately redacted if necessary): (i) the application form and any supporting documentation; (ii) the licence (showing any conditions imposed) and any supporting documentation (including NatureScot’s justification for granting the licence and copies of any assessments undertaken in support of the application)?
Copies of this information is attached separately to this response.
We have redacted out some information from the documents being released to you for the following reasons:
1. Personal data – we have redacted out personal data because releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018, and we are therefore applying the exemption 11(2) (Personal Data) from the EIRS to this information.
2. Public safety – again we have redacted out information on the specific locations/areas/places where hunting with dogs might take place. Releasing this information into the public domain in response to an information request, could lead to individuals involved in hunting being identified and could lead to them, or their property, being targeted and/or harassed and pose a risk to their safety. We are therefore applying the following EIRs exemption 10(5)(a) (Public Safety) to this information.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
