The Game Act 1927

c i e
AT 1 of 1927

THE GAME ACT 1927

The Game Act 1927 Index


c AT 1 of 1927 Page 3

c i e
THE GAME ACT 1927

Index Section Page

1 Short title and construction ........................................................................................... 5
2 [Repealed] ........................................................................................................................ 5
3 Pursuit of game, etc, during the night time prohibited ............................................. 5
4 Use of artificial light for pursuing game, etc, prohibited .......................................... 6
5 Entry of police ................................................................................................................. 7
6 Penalties ........................................................................................................................... 7
7 [Repealed] ........................................................................................................................ 7
8 Commencement of Act .................................................................................................. 7
SCHEDULE 9

ENDNOTES 11

TABLE OF LEGISLATION HISTORY 11
TABLE OF RENUMBERED PROVISIONS 11
TABLE OF ENDNOTE REFERENCES 11

The Game Act 1927 Section 1


c AT 1 of 1927 Page 5

c i e
THE GAME ACT 1927

Received Royal Assent: 27 June 1927
Passed: 21 October 1927
Commenced: 27 October 1927
AN ACT
to amend the Game Acts.
GENERAL NOTE:
The maximum fines in this Act are as increased by the Fines Act
1986 and by the Criminal Justice (Penalties, Etc.) Act 1993 s 1.
1 Short title and construction

This Act may be cited as “The Game Act, 1927”, and this Act and the Game Act,
1882, may be together cited as “The Game Acts, 1882 to 1927”.
2 [Repealed]
1

3 Pursuit of game, etc, during the night time prohibited
2

No person shall go or be in pursuit of game, rabbits, birds, or vermin, at any
time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.3

EDITORIAL NOTE:
For the convenience of users the text of section 3 as
modified by SD262/11 is set out below:
“3 Pursuit of game, etc, during the night time prohibited

(1) No person shall go or be in pursuit of game, rabbits, birds, or vermin, at
any time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply to the pursuit of rabbits on —
(a) any land occupied by the person doing the pursuing, or the
employee of such person; or
(b) any other land with the consent of the occupier of the land.”
Section 4 The Game Act 1927


Page 6 AT 1 of 1927 c

4 Use of artificial light for pursuing game, etc, prohibited
4

(1) [Subject to paragraph (2)] no person shall at any time use artificial light
of any description in connection with the hunting, pursuing or shooting
of game, rabbits, birds, or vermin.5

(2) [Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the use on any land, in connection with
the hunting or pursuing of rabbits, of artificial light, used with dogs but
not with any other form of assistance, by the occupier of that land or by
any person having the written permission of the occupier for such
purpose, such permission having first been lodged at the police station
nearest to the land.]6

EDITORIAL NOTE
: For the convenience of users the text of section 4 as
modified by SD262/11 is set out below:
“4 Use of artificial light for pursuing game, etc, prohibited

(1) No person shall at any time use artificial light of any description in
connection with the hunting, pursuing or shooting of game, rabbits,
birds or vermin.
(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply to the hunting, pursuing or
shooting of rabbits, using only dogs in accordance with subsection (3) or
suppressed firearms in accordance with subsection (4), on —
(a) any land occupied by the person doing the hunting, pursuing or
shooting, or the employee of such person; or
(b) any other land with the written consent of the occupier of the land
(which consent must be lodged at the police station nearest to the
land).
(3) The use of dogs under subsection (2) is permitted only —
(a) in the parishes of Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride and Jurby in any of the
months from 1 September to the end of February each year; and
(b) in any other Parish during the months of September, October and
November in each year.
(4) A person using a suppressed firearm under subsection (2) —
(a) must hold a firearms certificate in force at the time; and
(b) must have obtained the consent of the Isle of Man Constabulary.
(5) In deciding whether to give consent under subsection (4)(b), the Isle of
Man Constabulary must be satisfied that the individual is a fit and
proper person and has sufficient experience and will adhere to any
relevant guidance issued by the Isle of Man Constabulary.
(6) In this section —
“firearms certificate
” has the same meaning as in section 32 of the Firearms Act
1947;
The Game Act 1927 Section 5


c AT 1 of 1927 Page 7

“suppressed firearm
” means a firearm fitted with a device intended to
substantially reduce the noise produced when that firearm is
discharged.”.
5 Entry of police

It shall be lawful for any police officer or constable to enter upon any land
between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise for the purpose of
searching for or apprehending persons committing an offence against the
provisions of this Act, and to search such persons, and if he has reason to
believe that an offence has been committed against this Act to take such persons
into custody without warrant, and to seize and retain any dogs, ferrets, nets,
lamps, or other things found on or with such persons capable of being used for
the purposes aforesaid.
6 Penalties

Any person committing an offence against the provisions of this Act, or being
found in possession of nets, lamps, or other articles used in pursuit of game,
rabbits, birds, or vermin, during the night time, where the court is satisfied that
such person has been, or was about to be, on such pursuit, and any person
refusing to allow an officer of police or constable to search him under the
powers in this Act contained, shall be liable on summary conviction at the suit
of the occupier of the land on which such pursuit took place, or of any inspector
or sergeant of police, to a fine not exceeding £1,000, or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding one month, or to both fine and imprisonment, and all dogs
or articles found with or on such persons when arrested may be declared by the
court to be forfeited.
7 [Repealed]
7

8 Commencement of Act

This Act shall come into operation when the Royal Assent thereto has been by
the Governor announced to Tynwald, and a certificate thereof has been signed
by the Governor and the Speaker of the House of Keys.
The Game Act 1927 Schedule



c AT 1 of 1927 Page 9

SCHEDULE
8

The Game Act 1927 Endnotes


c AT 1 of 1927 Page 11

ENDNOTES

Table of Legislation History

Legislation Year and No Commencement






Table of Renumbered Provisions

Original Current






Table of Endnote References

1
S 2 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1983 Sch 2. 2
S 3 modified as regards night shooting of rabbits by SD262/11. 3
Word “rabbits,” omitted in respect of the parishes of Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride and
Jurby during the months from 1 September to the end of February and in any other
case during months of September, October and November in each year: GC154/78 as
amended by GC202/87. 4
S 4 modified as regards night shooting of rabbits by SD262/11. 5
Words in square brackets added in respect of the parishes of Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride
and Jurby during the months from 1 September to the end of February and in any other
case during months of September, October and November in each year: GC154/78 as
amended by GC202/87. 6
Subs (2) added and applies in respect of the parishes of Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride and
Jurby during the months from 1 September to the end of February and in any other
case during months of September, October and November in each year: GC154/78 as
amended by GC202/87. Modified as regards night shooting of rabbits by SD262/11. 7
S 7 repealed by Game Act, 1957, Sch. 8
Sch repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1983 Sch 2.